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RELEASE: Rep. Lesch hosts victim of broken forfeiture laws as guest at State of the State address

Monday, January 23, 2017

St. Paul, Minn. – Tonight at the State Capitol, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will deliver his 2017 State of the State address to a joint session of the Minnesota Legislature. Joining state Rep. John Lesch (DFL – St. Paul) this evening on the House Floor will be Stephany Walker, a constituent of his who has been the victim of a forfeiture system in Minnesota widely seen as unjust and broken.

“This coming Saturday will mark one year since the time Stephany’s vehicle was seized, her rent money taken, and her life turned upside down by a system which remains beyond accountability,” Rep. Lesch said. “The loss of her rent money resulted in homelessness for her family, and near loss of her job on multiple occasions after having worn out her welcome with friends and family upon whom she was forced to rely for housing and transportation.”

On June 29th, 2016, Walker won a court order from a judge who demanded Ramsey County and the Minnesota State Patrol immediately release her vehicle and her rent money. The Ramsey County Attorney refused to do so on procedural grounds, and filed what Rep. Lesch deemed to be “a frivolous and spiteful” appeal, thereby further delaying justice to Walker.

As early as last August, the Ramsey County Attorney admitted it had no legal grounds to hold Walker’s car and her rent money, but continued to refuse to release her property on technical grounds. As of today, the Ramsey County Attorney has deferred to the State Patrol, who refuses to release the car without being paid towing fees and storage costs. This decision came despite the fact that the court found law enforcement never had the legal right to fofeit the vehicle in the first place.

"Most people would be outraged by actions like these, and they should be" said Rep. Lesch. "Stephany is accompanying me to the floor tonight to see first-hand how the policies which affect her and her family are made."

Rep. Lesch is the lead DFL member of the House Civil Law and Data Practices Committee. He represents the Como Park, North End, East Side and Hamline-Midway neighborhoods of the City of St. Paul at the Capitol.

House Image

Attached Photo: Rep. John Lesch, Stephany Walker and her family