Former state senator Nicole Mitchell was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of supervised probation after being found guilty of felony burglary and felony possession of burglary tools.
Last year, Mitchell was arrested after breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home with the intent to take items that once belonged to her late father. After an extended legal saga, the DFLer was convicted and subsequently resigned from the Minnesota Senate.
At today’s sentencing hearing, a victim impact statement from Mitchell’s stepmother, Carol, was read aloud. In that statement, Carol said she believed Mitchell planned to murder her, make it look like a suicide, and inherit everything.
Attorneys for Mitchell did not immediately return a request for comment regarding this allegation, but Mitchell previously testified that she did not intend to harm Carol in any way when she was in the home. Carol has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Three victim impact statements were read during the hearing, which was streamed by Valley News Live. Those victim impact statements described how Carol has lost a sense of safety, endured lasting negative effects, and has been harmed by the entire ordeal.
Mitchell also addressed the courtroom, expressing remorse for her actions.
“I deserve to be here today,” said the former legislator. “The things said, and the harm I caused, are real things. And I completely abide by whatever you feel is fair. It’s wrong to hurt anybody, but especially, in my opinion, someone you love.”
Mitchell went on to say that she made horrible decisions that night, was worried about her own feelings, and that she did something that was “ridiculous and illegal and selfish.”
Regarding her stepmother, Mitchell said: “All I can say is I hope she finds it in her heart to forgive me someday, I don’t think I probably deserve it. I still love her, my kids still love her. If she ever wants a relationship again, that door is open, but I messed everything up. And I did something wrong. And I will work on being a better person, and with whatever is decided here today, trying to use that time to reflect on how I can possibly repair this.”
“I’m very sorry,” she added.
While Mitchell’s legal team had requested a fully delayed sentence in order to challenge an existing legal precedent, Judge Michael Fritz rejected their arguments. Prior to sentencing, Fritz said Mitchell’s intrusion caused her stepmother significant distress and Minnesota law imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 days of incarceration in Mitchell’s case.
In the end, Mitchell was sentenced to 180 days in the Becker County Jail and five years of supervised probation. A prison sentence of 21 months was stayed and will be dismissed upon successful completion of the jail term and probation sentence.
BREAKING: Former Minnesota Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell sentenced to six months in jail for felony burglary pic.twitter.com/MEHebDaIlQ
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) September 23, 2025
Mitchell’s probation conditions require the DFLer to remain law-abiding, check in with her probation officer, cooperate with any searches, provide a DNA sample, and not possess firearms, ammunition, or explosives.
Judge Fritz allowed Mitchell to serve her sentence in the Ramsey County jail in order to keep her current job and use a work release program. She is required to pay the cost of confinement at Ramsey County.
Mitchell must report to jail no later than 6 p.m. on Oct. 8 and Becker County will require confirmation of her arrival at the Ramsey County Jail.
Prior to her resignation, Mitchell represented Woodbury and part of Maplewood in the state Senate. She was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 2022, winning Senate District 47 by roughly 17 points.
The campaign to fill the vacancy left by Mitchell’s resignation is currently underway.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
