Janine Louise Bornhorst, the county recorder for Lac qui Parle, *Minnesota received a 365-day jail sentence and a $1,000 fine for allegedly damaging property at the county's courthouse. Judge David Mennis stayed a portion of the fine and said that her jail time would be waived if she behaved within the terms of her conditional probation for the next two years.

The original charges against Bornhorst included a felony count of first-degree criminal damage to property and a misdemeanor count of theft. But, the felony count was reduced and the theft charge dismissed based upon the terms of her plea agreement. Instead, she was charged with a gross misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property.  

In August 2006, a criminal complaint was filed that accused Bornhorst of vandalizing areas of the Madison courthouse on February 5, 2006. Her alleged actions came after she was questioned about discrepancies in the recorder office's account by the county auditor, Stanton Bjorgan, and members of the county commissioner's office.

According to an article in The Madison Tribune, a local police officer discovered a desk that had been damaged, the name plate missing from Bjorgan's office door and the first three letters of a four-letter profanity scratched into the door frame.

According to several witnesses, Bornhorst was observed in the courthouse, but she denied having any knowledge of the vandalism. In addition to her suspended jail time and fine, Bornhorst must also pay $408 for damages to the courthouse; attend anger management counseling; and cannot have contact with the county commissioner or auditor unless the contact is work-related.

Note: Originally, News for Public Officials reported the state as Wisconsin. This report was in error.

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