Ringleader faces charges

[Lee Borgersen]

Former “Ely Six” ringleader faces new charges for BWCA violation
 
LAKE COUNTY— Ely resident Barney Lakner, age 46, has been charged with a felony count and six misdemeanors following his arrest on Saturday, Jan. 11 while snowmobiling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Twenty-six year-old Edward Zupancich, of Babbitt, who was with Lakner at the time, faces similar charges in a Lake County court.

Lakner was the convicted ringleader of the so-called Ely Six, a group of young men who terrorized canoeists on Aug. 7, 2007. Lakner was sentenced to three years in prison as a result of that incident, which drew national attention.

Whether Lakner faces additional prison time remains to be seen. Both he and Zupancich face a felony count for fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle. Lakner faces misdemeanor charges for possessing cans and a mechanical device in the wilderness, as well as littering, failure to display registration, and operating a snowmobile in a careless manner.

If convicted for fleeing a peace officer, the two men could be subject to up to three years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine. Both men were arrested as a result of the incident. Both men were held following an initial hearing on Jan. 14. Zupancich is currently out on $10,000 bail. His next court appearance is set for Feb. 3, in Two Harbors.

No information was available at press time about Lakner’s next appearance.



 ...more

 



Here is the original story about our hero's if you'd like to see these morons did back in 2007.

Ely men charged in BWCA camper harassing



http://mnoutdoorsman.com/forums/index.php?topic=7477.msg51423#msg51423

[DDSBYDAY]

  I wonder how much of that three year prison term he actually served.  It does not seem to have put any fear of consequences in him.   

[Lee Borgersen]

  I wonder how much of that three year prison term he actually served.  It does not seem to have put any fear of consequences in him.   

"Stupid is as stupid does"

[Lee Borgersen]

                      New update on the bad guys!


Published February 04, 2014
Two men in court over snowmobile chase in Boundary Waters
Two men who led Department of Natural Resources conservation officers on a high-speed snowmobile chase made their initial appearances in 6th District Court on Monday at the Lake County Courthouse.
 
  Latest update.....

Barney Lakner
In 2007, Lakner and five others motor-boated illegally into Basswood Lake, where they used firearms and fireworks to terrorize campers, also threatening to rape and torture them. (2007 photo)
Two men who led Department of Natural Resources conservation officers on a high-speed snowmobile chase made their initial appearances in 6th District Court on Monday at the Lake County Courthouse.

One of the men is the ringleader of a 2007 drunken, gun-shooting, fireworks-lighting terroristic rampage on Basswood Lake. This time, he and his companion tore through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on snowmobiles, leading officers on a chase across the same Basswood Lake.

Barney Lakner, 44, of Ely and Edward Zupancich, 26, of Babbitt will appear in court again March 7 for a pretrial hearing.

The two were arrested Jan. 11 while snowmobiling in the BWCAW, where snowmobiles are banned by federal law.

Both face felony charges for fleeing an officer on a motor vehicle, as well as a slew of misdemeanor charges including littering and operating a snowmobile in a careless manner. Zupancich is out on $10,000 bail and Lakner on $20,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint, three Minnesota state conservation officers were involved in the chase. At two points during the pursuit, Lakner's snowmobile apparently rammed the officers' snowmobiles, officers said in the complaint. The officers said they were traveling up to 80 mph during the pursuit.

It's at least the third time Lakner has been arrested for major snowmobiling violations - he was arrested by U.S. Forest Service officers on Crooked Lake in 2004 and charged with fleeing officers on a snowmobile in St. Louis County in 2000.

In 2007, Lakner and five others motor-boated, illegally, into Basswood Lake, where they used firearms and fireworks to terrorize campers, also threatening to rape and torture them. The case gained national attention.

Lakner avoided a trial by pleading guilty to five charges, including three felonies. He was sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of three years in a state prison. Assistant Lake County Attorney Lisa Hanson said he was discharged in August 2011.

[Lee Borgersen]

                           Photo of one of the Bad Boys!


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazE8PAL-DE[/youtube]