Ex-Minneapolis employee denies she sold drugs at City Hall

The defendant, accused of selling prescription narcotics, said her case is related to actions against Hennepin County Court workers.

By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune

Last update: November 3, 2009 - 9:14 PM

A Minneapolis employee charged with selling prescription narcotics from her City Hall office said after appearing in court Tuesday that the case against her was connected to a mysterious shake-up this fall in the Hennepin County District Court system.

Lynette Rounds, 55, of Minneapolis is charged with a felony third-degree controlled substance crime for allegedly selling an undercover officer 30 Percocet pills for $165 outside her second-floor office in August. She resigned from her $45,125-a-year job at the property services division of the Public Works Department on Monday, according to a city spokesman.

The criminal complaint against Rounds didn't mention the investigation at the courts, but in brief comments after her court appearance Tuesday, she denied the charge against her and complained that court employees to whom she allegedly sold narcotics have not been publicly identified as she has. So far, no one else is charged.

"The stuff is not true," said Rounds as she left Judge Denise Reilly's courtroom. She didn't enter a formal plea.

In mid September, 10 state court employees who worked in Hennepin County were mysteriously put on paid leave, with some escorted from the courthouse. The state investigated, and all but four employees were allowed to return to work. Disciplinary proceedings against the four began in early October.

Courts administrator Mark Thompson, who has consistently said he can't identify the employees or discuss the discipline until it's resolved, did not deny Tuesday that the investigation is related to the case against Rounds. He also didn't deny that the four employees no longer are on the payroll.

Rounds worked as an office support specialist. She began working for the city in 2005. Before that, she spent 19 years with the city's development agency, now known as the Community Planning and Economic Development. She posted $10,000 bail and was released from the county jail late Monday.

Rounds walked into court holding the hand of a toddler. Assistant County Attorney Michael Radmer requested higher bail, saying Rounds expressed interest in moving to Memphis. He also said that because of the "brazen nature" of the allegations, she is at "substantial risk" to reoffend.

Judge Reilly declined to increase the bail amount. Rounds is to appear at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

The city spokesman said the alleged behavior is "totally unacceptable, and it is now up to the courts to deal with this incident."

Star Tribune staff writer Vince Tuss contributed to this report. Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

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