Detroit Lakes man sentenced to 12 years in prison for sex offenses – Detroit Lakes Tribune

DETROIT LAKES – Nicholas Christopher Honer, 48, of Detroit Lakes, was convicted in Becker County District Court of first-degree sexual abuse and possession of pornographic works featuring children.

As part of a plea agreement, three charges of first-degree sexual abuse and a second charge of possession of pornographic works were dropped.

According to court documents, on February 2, a girl under the age of 12 reported that Honer had had sexual intercourse with her over a period of several years.

After initial contact with police, Honer went to the Detroit Lakes Police Department to speak with an investigator. The investigator was unavailable for an interview but returned his call on a recorded line.

In the phone call, Honer admitted that he had had sexual contact with the teenager. When he later met the investigator in person, he again admitted the sexual contact.

On June 12, District Judge Michelle Lawson sentenced Honer to 144 months in the St. Cloud Prison with credit for 132 days already served. He was fined $50 plus $85 in court costs and ordered to register as a felon. He was given a 10-year conditional release period.

Bruce Lee Johnson, 55, of Lake Park, was charged in Becker County District Court with check fraud and theft.

According to court records, on August 18, 2023, Johnson was accused of renting a mobile home and using a check made out to a closed account. The check was returned unpaid by the bank. The check was dated July 29, 2023, and was made out for $1,000. The check was made out to Bruce L. Johnson and made payable to “Swanson's Rental.”

Detroit Lakes Police confirmed to the bank that the account was closed on June 1, 2023. Johnson did not return the trailer to Swanson's Rental, which picked up the damaged trailer from another location.

The estimate for trailer damage and trailer rental is $1,316.36.

A police officer tried to contact Johnson several times, but was unable to reach him. Johnson did not pay or contact Swanson's Rental.

On June 20, 2024, Johnson failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was released without bail on August 7, with conditions including a ban on entering Swanson's Repair. His next court date is September 30 before District Judge Gretchen Thilmony.

Adrian Jay Hawkman, 40, of Fargo, was charged in Becker County District Court with check forgery.

According to court documents, on May 3, an officer with the Detroit Lakes Police Department was dispatched to a report of a fraudulent check being cashed at the American National Bank in Detroit Lakes.

The officer spoke to the bank's manager, JK, who stated that on May 2, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a man came in and cashed a check for $3,868.41 while presenting a North Dakota ID.

Bank officials were concerned about the check because the man had his hood up and appeared to be hiding his face. JK then contacted the bank's deposit department team, who determined that the check was fake. This was because the check numbers on the check had never been issued.

They then contacted the business owner of the checks, who stated that they never issued the check to that party.

The officer obtained a copy of the North Dakota ID, which had the name Adrian Jay Hawkman on it. JK stated that the photo on the ID matched the person who cashed the check. Police checked the operator's license number with the National Crime Information Center, which confirmed that it was a valid ID.

On July 18, Hawkman failed to appear in court and an arrest warrant was issued.