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Fairmont woman facing felony counts

FAIRMONT — A Fairmont woman is facing felony charges in Martin County.

Ruth Elaine Heater, 65, has been charged with two counts of being a predatory offender and violating registration requirements. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On Dec. 21, a Fairmont police officer was advised that Heater is required to register as a predatory offender and may be out of compliance. The officer learned Heater was living in the 500 block of Tilden Street in Fairmont, but her primary residence previously registered with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension came back to a residence in the 500 block of Home Street in Fairmont.

The officer went to Heater’s residence on Tilden and met with her. The officer advised Heater that he had some paperwork he needed to go over with her, and Heater invited him inside. The officer asked if she had gotten some paperwork from the bureau and she said no.

When asked if she had changed her residence with the bureau, she replied no because she had never received the paperwork. When asked if she came into the police department to change her address, she said, “I didn’t think about that.” She then said she does not consider herself a predator.

When asked when she moved into the residence on Tilden, Heater said it was in August 2018 and she started paying rent in September. Heater is required to update her residence at least five days prior to moving.

The officer observed that Heater was registered with the bureau as being employed at the Holiday Inn. When asked if she was still employed there, she admitted she had left the Holiday Inn in October 2016. She said she started working at Twelve Baskets in Fairmont on Oct. 15, 2018.

Heater is required by law to update her employment status within five days of the change. When asked about the last time she updated her registration paperwork, Heater said she did not remember.

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