Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty attempted to take a victory lap this week while congratulating herself for recommending an upward durational sentencing departure to the court for a Hopkins man who killed his girlfriend last year.
However, that man, Matthew Scott Brenneman, 40, was given the opportunity to kill his girlfriend, Danicka Bergeson, 33, because Moriarty’s office had offered Brenneman a plea deal in two cases involving prior domestic violence against Bergeson that left him free just days before he killed her.
Brenneman had been charged in one case with misdemeanor domestic assault, and in a second case with felony charges of domestic assault by strangulation and threats of violence for incidents in April and May of 2023, respectively, involving abuse against Bergeson, according to court documents.
In a plea deal offered to Brenneman by Moriarty’s office in June 2023, he agreed to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for a stay-of-imposition on the prison sentence and was released from custody to await formal sentencing, which the plea agreement stated would be capped at 90 days in jail and would include credit for time served.
Days later, Bergeson was found dead in their apartment—her body already decomposing and wrapped in a blanket—after a neighbor reported hearing groaning, yelling and banging coming from the unit. Brenneman was arrested and charged with murder after being briefly hospitalized for reportedly drinking bleach.
Moriarty said in a press release following sentencing this week that “Brenneman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while under a restraining order. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office pursued a heavier sentence than prescribed by Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines due to aggravating factors in the case.”
Brenneman was sentenced to just under 24 years in prison and will be credited with 411 days of time served in jail since his arrest.
Moriarty was criticized on the X platform (formerly Twitter) after posting about Brenneman’s sentence by several people who called out her failure to sufficiently hold Brenneman accountable for his prior abuse against Bergeson. At least 75 negative comments were posted by users under Moriarty’s post.
One commenter said, “A little ‘Too little, too late.’ If bloody Mary had done her job in the 1st place, that woman might be alive.”
Another said, “Shame on you. He should have been in jail already.”
Shame on you. He should have been in jail already.
— HockeyNow (@HockeyNow65) August 27, 2024
Another user said, “Are you seriously trying to gloat about this? unbelievable.”
Moriarty said in her press release: “All of our thoughts are with Danicka’s family today. We will continue prosecuting those who commit intimate partner violence, knowing that while seeking justice is essential, nothing can return what is taken from devastated families.”
Minnesota only requires inmates to serve two-thirds or less of their sentence in prison. As such, Brenneman will only be required to serve just under 16 years in prison. With credit for time already served, Brenneman is scheduled for release in May 2039.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
