Area man arrested for assault,
out on bail
By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 5/30/02

Jon Wesley Geurkink, 35, of Pease was arrested in Benton County on Sunday, May 19 for third degree assault. Geurkink was released two days later on $10,000 cash bail.

On Wednesday, May 22, acting on counselís advice, Geurkink turned himself in on an active warrant issued by Mille Lacs County for violating conditions of his release, pursuant to a performance bond.

A performance bond was issued following Geurkinkís arrest in Mille Lacs County on May 2 for operating a clandestine methamphetamine (meth) lab at his residence in Pease. He was released the following day after $10,000 cash bail was posted.

The third degree assault charges were brought by his girlfriend, Jennifer Emahaiser of Elk River. The assault took place in Benton County.

At a hearing on Thursday, May 23, assistant county attorney Matthew Quinn argued Geurkink violated his performance bond and therefore the original $10,000 cash bond should be revoked and new conditions for bond be brought forward.

Defense attorney Mark Kelly argued that Geurkink was the victim as Emahaiser was drunk and Geurkink was trying to stop his girlfriend from driving. Geurkink, who had a black and blue left eye, sat next to his attorney during the hearing.

Attorney Quinn, however, said he was told by the victim that Geurkink had been drinking shots of tequila. Geurkink left the scene and was not located by officers until the next day. Therefore a personal breath test was not administered.

Emahaiser was hospitalized for injuries, including a missing front tooth which was found in Geurkinkís truck.

Defense attorney Kelly said Emahaiser was so drunk that she fell, "as drunks often do," and thatís when her tooth was knocked out.

Judge Michael Jesse revoked the original $10,000 bail, which means itís seized until a later time and may or may not be returned. Bail was posted in both Benton and Mille Lacs counties by Geurkinkís father, Wes.

Jesse also set conditional bail bond at $75,000 and an unconditional bail bond at $150,000.

Geurkink was released from Mille Lacs County Jail on Friday, May 24 after the $75,000 conditional bail bond was met.