News and Press Releases
Man sentenced for assaulting two deputies of U.S. Marshals Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court, a 27-year-old man was sentenced for ramming two vehicles driven by deputies of the United States Marshals Service. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Shawn Michael Olthoff to 24 months in prison and ordered him to pay $6,748.67 in restitution. Olthoff was indicted on November 14, 2011, on two counts of assault upon a federal law enforcement officer. He waived his right to a trial by jury. His bench trial was on January 24, 2012, and he was convicted on March 19, 2012.
Following yesterday’s sentencing, U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota, Sharon Lubinski, said, “Mr. Olthoff’s sentence makes our community a safer place and supports all law enforcement in the dangerous job they perform each day.”
On the day the offense occurred, Olthoff had violated the terms of his supervised release for a prior federal offense by failing to provide his true address, attend court-ordered work release, and participate in substance abuse programs. As a result of those failures, an arrest warrant was issued, and on October 28, 2011, deputies with the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”) attempted to apprehend Olthoff in North Branch. Olthoff tried to flee the scene in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend. The deputies blocked the vehicle with their cars and ordered the pair to surrender. Eventually, Olthoff’s girlfriend gave herself up, but Olthoff jumped into the driver’s seat, started the car, and rammed the two USMS vehicles. A pursuit ensued, during which Olthoff
struck a number of other vehicles before escaping custody by fleeing on foot. He was apprehended the following day.
This case was the result of an investigation by the USMS and North Branch Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.
