The number of adults charged with felony offenses in Dakota County rose for the ninth time in 10 years to an all-time high of 1,927 in 2003.

These statistics, released by County Attorney James Backstrom, reflect not the number of felonies that occurred in the county, but the number of felony charges filed against individuals within the county last year.

The figure represents a 5 percent increase from the 1,864 adults charged with felonies in 2002.

Drug offenses continue to represent the largest category of cases charged by the attorneyís office, increasing from 805 in 2002 to 848 in 2003, and making up 30 percent of the total number of felonies charged by the county.

ìThe significant increase in drug prosecutions in Dakota County over the last eight years is a reminder that Dakota County is not immune from the widespread illegal drug use problem we have in our nation,î said Backstrom.

There were significant increases in adult felony property-related charges last year as well.

Theft-related offenses increased from 366 to 442, burglaries rose from 153 to 165 and criminal damage to property jumped from 61 to 97 in 2003.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2002, it became a felony to drive under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances (DWI) if previously convicted of DWI at least three times within the last 10 years.

Last year was the first complete year felony DWIs were prosecuted by the county attorney.

This change in the law resulted in 113 felony DWI charges filed in 2003 against 76 defendants.

Backstrom indicated that the overall number of felony crimes of violence charged was 348 in 2003, a significant decrease of 16 percent from the 404 crimes of violence charged in the county in 2002.

There were three homicides charged in Dakota County last year, two occurred in 2003 and the third in 2000.

ìDakota County is a safe community in which to live,î said Backstrom. ìOur violent crime rate is statistically quite low for the size of our community and there are not many counties in our nation with a population of more than 350,000 which average less than three murders a year.î

Local stats

Local cities that had an increase in the number of adults charged in 2003 were: Burnsville (267 to 288), Farmington (27 to 66) and Lakeville (97 to 157).
Local jurisdictions that had a decrease in the number of adults charged were: Apple Valley (180 to 149) and Dakota County Sheriff (280 to 191).
Cities that had remained virtually unchanged in the number of adults charged were: Eagan (308 to 309) and Rosemount (55 to 56).

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