Advertisement
Janet Marie Dornfeld, 55, appeared in Winona County District Court on Wednesday for a pretrial hearing, but her attorney, John Brinckman, asked the court for more time to prepare.
Brinckman is a late hire for Dornfeld after Rich McCluer withdrew from representing her May 28, citing a “conflict of interest” because he was also representing Dornfeld’s cousin, Peggy Lynn Monroe, for the same crime.
Judge Jeff Thompson agreed to reset the trial to Oct. 7. Dornfeld will return to court Sept. 18 for another pretrial hearing.
Dornfeld has been charged with third-degree burglary that accuses her of entering the home of the late Harriet Kelley on Feb. 2, 2007, without permission. She and Monroe, 55, allegedly entered after dark to avoid suspicion, but a neighbor called police after Monroe turned on a light in the house, Monroe testified in May.
According to the criminal complaint, police arrived and found a Cuban peso and a brass ring in Dornfeld’s pocket. She said she didn’t know if the items belonged to her. When asked why the women were in the house, Dornfeld replied they were just being “nosy neighbors,” court documents show.
Monroe was convicted of trespassing and was sentenced to a year of probation.
Dornfeld faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
Contact Kevin Behr at (507) 453-3524 or at kbehr@winonadailynews.com.
