pearson complaint

7/21/2019 Pearson Complaint

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Lia Pearson Co. Atty. Complaint No.: 2137367-2 Court File No.:

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STATE OF MINNESOTA

COUNTY OF RAMSEY

DISTRICT COURT

SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT

COURT FILE NO.: _____________PROSECUTOR FILE NO.: 2137367

State of Minnesota,

Plaintiff,

v.

Lia Pearson

(DOB: 12/04/1977) 811 - 8th St., #5 Farmington, MN 55024,

FELONY

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Summons Warrant

Order of Detention

Amended

Certified Juvenile

EJJ

Defendant.

The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and states that there is probable cause to believe that the Defendant committed the following offense(s):

COUNT 1 On or about the 11th day of January, 2015 to the 12th day of February, 2015, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, thedefendant, LIA PEARSON, did unlawfully, as a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker of a child, endanger thechild’s person or health by intentionally or recklessly causing or permitting the child to be placed in a situation

likely to substantially harm the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health or cause the child’s death, and

resulted in substantial harm to the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health.

Said acts constituting the offense of Endangerment of a Child in violation of MN Statute: §609.378.1(b)(1)Maximum Sentence: 5 years or $10,000 fine, or both




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STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

The Complainant states that the following facts establish probable cause:

Your complainant is an investigator with the Maplewood Police Department and bases this complaint upon a

review of reports and upon her own investigation.

On February 12, 2015, at approximately 11:03 hours, Maplewood squads responded to 2510 Barclay St. N.,Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on a report of a baby who was not breathing.

Officers arrived at the address and were met by Leb Mike Meak , DOB 02/02/1980. Officers asked about thechild. He led officers downstairs to a bedroom. Officers saw an infant female, G.X., DOB 08/31/2013. She wason her back. She was not moving. Her mouth and eyes were open. Her lips were purple and she did not have a pulse. Medics arrived and began administering CPR. Police cut away the child’s clothing and exposed a large

number of black and a purple bruises covering the child’s stomach and chest. There was also a large bruise onthe left side of the child’s face and other smaller bruises on her face.

Meak explained that G.X. is not his child. She belongs to his girlfriend. He identified her as LIA PEARSON,

DOB: 12/04/1977, hereinafter, the defendant. He said that she lives in Farmington, Minnesota, and currentlyworks in Burnsville, Minnesota. Meak said he has been watching the child at his home for approximately thelast two and ½ weeks.

While medics were still working on G.X., the defendant arrived at the house. She confirmed that G.X. had beenstaying with Meak and he had been caring for her because she lives in Farmington and works in Burnsville.

During formal interviews at the Maplewood Police Department, Meak admitted that he may have caused thechild’s injuries. He said that every time he changes her diaper, she does get a little spanking but not to the pointwhere she “passes out or anything.” He thought that the bruises on her torso happened when he kind of

“roughed her up little bit” while changing her diaper or telling her to stay still while getting her bottle. He said ifshe follows him, he grabs her around the torso and puts her on the bed. As he was talking about this, he gesturedand shook his arms. He said it is possible that he caused the injuries that caused her death. He may havesqueezed her too hard. The only time he “roughed her up” that morning was when she continued to try to getout of bed. He said it was probably from the “jerking.” When he jerked her, she “kind of froze a little bit.” He

admitted that he shook G.X. a few times. He said that her head was dangling and she appeared lifeless when hewas shaking her.

G.X. died as a result of her injuries. Preliminary autopsy findings include multiple external injuries and multipleinternal injuries to the abdominal region and the head. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined thatthis child’s death is a homicide.

Leb Mike Meak was charged with Murder in the Second Degree in Ramsey County District Court for his role inthe death of G.X. That matter is pending.




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Leb Meak has two sons, E.T.M, DOB 08/29/2006, and I.P.M, DOB 04/29/2002, who lived in the lower level ofthe home at 2510 Barclay with him during the time leading up to the death of G.X.

Detective Virginia Erickson of the Maplewood Police Department interviewed both boys, separately, on

February 17, 2015. Both boys stated that G.X. had been staying at their house for about a month. They saidthat their dad kept G.X. in his room a lot of the time.

I.P.M. said, “Sometimes I would hear my dad hitting [G.X.]”. He said that he heard “thumping sounds” coming

from the bedroom. His dad said, “Why did you do that, G.X.?” Then he heard the hitting sounds. He said the

worst time was when his dad left her alone in the room and she messed it up. It bothered him the most when heheard G.X. yell and scream when his dad hit her.

E.T.M. said that his dad hit G.X. when she didn’t listen to him. His dad usually hit her in his room. He heard

“yelling and hitting and the baby crying.” He said it happened “a lot.” He said that he and his brother werereally sad for G.X. after she got a big bump on her head because “she acted different.” E.T.M. said that the

baby’s mom, Lia, knew what was happening to G.X. He said that he and his brother told her that their dad washitting G.X. He said that she acted worried but then told them not to tell their dad that they told her, or he andhis brother might get in trouble.

In a second interview on February 27, 2015, I.P.M. agreed that he and E.T.M. told Lia Pearson that their dadwas hitting G.X. He said she responded by saying, “Oh, okay.” He said that they told her quite a bit beforeG.X. died. He also said that G.X. had visible bruises on her head and arms.

On February 12, 2015, the defendant told Erickson that she had known Leb Mike Meak for five years. She saidthat they started “hanging out” together in July of 2014 and that they committed to a relationship with one

another in August, 2014. She said that G.X. had been staying with Meak for about a month, starting during theweek of January 11, and that he took care of G.X. Meak asked if G.X. could stay with him because “he got

attached to her” and liked taking care of her. She said he did not work. She said that she last saw G.X. onFebruary 1, and that G.X. had a large bruise on her forehead. Meak told her that he did not know how ithappened and that G.X. must have injured herself on his weight set. She said that G.X. also developed bruisingto the side of her face and two black eyes. She said she put ice on the bump, but did not take G.X. to a doctor.

Erickson conducted a second interview with the defendant on February 20. She admitted that I.P.M. andE.T.M. talked to her about G.X. They said, “Can you take her home please?” They told her that they think theirdad hits G.X. She also admitted that she told the boys not to discuss this with their dad because she did notwant the boys to get hurt. She rationalized that the boys told her this because they did not want G.X. to livewith them and she thought the boys might have wanted to go live with their mom instead of their dad.

During the February 20 interview, Erickson asked the defendant if Meak had tried calling her from jail. Shesaid, “No.” Erickson then asked if she tried calling him. The defendant said, “I don’t even want to hear from

him. But – because I won’t have anything nice to say to him.”

A review of Meak’s recorded jail phone conversations revealed that the defendant and Meak had numerous

phone conversations during the time period from February 21, 2015, through April 14, 2015. On February 21,she told Meak that G.X. forgives him. On February 22, she told him that she put $100 toward his phone calls.He told her that she should have put some of that money toward food so he could get something to eat. OnFebruary 24, she told him that she is angry at him but loves him in her heart. She said that when he gets out she




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will take him to G.X.’s grave. She went on to say that she hurts because he is in jail. She asked him where

G.X. got all of her bruises. She told him that they had to have a closed casket. She said that she wanted to becomforted in his arms. She said that she knows he is going through a lot and wishes that she could be with him.On March 2, she told him that she thinks of him every day and she loves him and was hoping that he would call

On March 7, she told him that she misses him and thinks about him every day. On March 18, she said that shehas not stopped caring about him and she thinks about him and G.X. every day. She said that if she didn’t love

him, she wouldn’t pick up the phone when he calls. They discussed a ring and he asked for her ring size. OnMarch 26, she told him that she worries about him while he is in jail. She said that he was there for her whenshe needed him. She said that she loves him so much and she wants him to be her partner in life and in thefuture. On March 30, she told him that she enlarged a photo of him to poster size and put it in her room. OnMarch 31, she told him that she sent money to him. On April 2, she told him that she loves him and is waitingfor him. She said, “I am yours.” On April 5, she told him that she would send a photo of herself to him. On

April 7, he asked her to put some money into his account and she agreed to do so. On April 9, she told him thatshe loves him and that she can’t change how her heart feels. On April 11, they discussed a scented letter thatshe sent to him. On April 14, Meak asked her if she is still in the building. She said that she is outside and that

it is too bad that he doesn’t have windows. Meak told her that they will be together when he is 39 or 40 if shedoes her part.

The defendant left G.X. in the care of Leb Mike Meak after she saw injuries on her child and after others in thehome told her that the Meak was hitting her child.




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Complainant requests that Defendant, subject to bail or conditions of release, be:(1) arrested or that other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant’s appearance in court; or (2) detained, if already in custody, pending further proceedings; and that said Defendant otherwise be dealt

with according to law.

COMPLAINANT’S NAME:

Virginia Erickson

COMPLAINANT’S SIGNATURE:

____________________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned this ______ day of _________, 20_____.

NAME/TITLE:

____________________________________

SIGNATURE:

____________________________________

Being authorized to prosecute the offenses charged, I approve this complaint.

Date: 04/21/2015 PROSECUTING ATTOR NEY’S SIGNATURE:

____________________________________ Name: Steven R. PfaffeAssistant Ramsey County Attorney

345 Wabasha Street North, Suite 120St. Paul, MN 55102651-266-3222/jsAttorney Registration #169274




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FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have determinedthat probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendant’s arrest or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant’s appearance in court, or Defendant’s detention, if already in custody, pending further proceedings .Defendant is therefore charged with the above-stated offense.

SUMMONS THEREFORE YOU, THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear on the 15th day of May, 2015

at 1:20 PM before the above-named court at Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center, 425 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 toanswer this complaint. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR in response to this SUMMONS, a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST shall be issued.

WARRANT Execute in MN Only Execute Nationwide Execute in Border States

To the Sheriff of the above-named county; or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I hereby order, in the name of the Stateof Minnesota, that the above-named Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the above-named court (if in session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event notlater than 36 hours after the arrest or as soon as such Judge or Judicial Officer is available to be dealt with according to law.

ORDER OF DETENTION Since the above-named Defendant is already in custody, I hereby order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the above-namedDefendant continue to be detained pending further proceedings.

Bail:

Conditions of Release:

This complaint, duly subscribed and sworn to, is issued by the undersigned Judicial Officer this ______ day of _____________,20_____.

JUDICIAL OFFICER: NAME:

TITLE:

SIGNATURE:

___________________________________

Sworn testimony has been given before the Judicial Officer by the following witnesses:

COUNTY OF RAMSEYSTATE OF MINNESOTA

Clerk’s Signature or File Stamp:

STATE OF MINNESOTA Plaintiff, RETURN OF SERVICE

I hereby Certify and Return that I have served a copy of this COMPLAINT upon the Defendant herein named.

Signature of Authorized Service Agent:

_________________________________

vs.

LIA PEARSON Defendant.




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FINDINGS OF FACT

Probable cause found that defendant committed the offenses charged.

Ordered defendant's motion to dismiss denied.

Plea of not guilty to all counts entered.

Trial and hearing on all issues set.

Dated: ________________________ _______________________________________JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT




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DEFENDANT DATA / CHARGE SHEET – ATTACHMENT A

DEFENDANT NAME: LIA PEARSON DOB: 12/04/1977

Defendant alias name(s): Alias DOB(s):

Defendant last knownaddress:

811 - 8th St., #5Farmington, MN 55024

State ID: Fingerprint ID: FBI ID: St. Paul PD ID: Offender ID:

OTHER DEFENDANT / CASE IDENTIFIERS:

Fingerprinted? No Yes

Handgun permit? No Yes (Issuing Agency: )

Location of violation:

IF DRIVING OFFENSE:

Driver's License Number: Issuing State:

License Plate Number: Issuing State:

Accident Type:check all that apply

No injury/no damage Property Damage

Personal Injury Fatality

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC):




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FELONY SUMMONS COMPLAINT

CT NO

OFFENSEDATE

STATUTETYPE

STATUTE NBR

STATUTEDESCRIPTION

OFFENSELEVEL

MOC GOC

AGENCYORI

CN NBR

FUNCTION

1 01/11/2015

to

02/12/2015

Charge 609.378.1(b)(1) Endanger Child-Situation

Could Cause Harm or

Death-Results Sub Harm

Physical/Emot Health-F

F I1106 N Maplewood Police

Dept ORI - MN0620400 CN - 15003882 Charging

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