Thomas Gary Corscadden, 48 of Austin, will have a hearing today on charges he violated the conditions of his release from prison.

Tuesday, March 21, 2000

Thomas Gary Corscadden, 48 of Austin, will have a hearing today on charges he violated the conditions of his release from prison.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections hearing officer will take testimony from Corscadden in an informal setting and not a district court hearing room.

Corscadden, a Level III sex offender, was released from prison after serving his sentence February 28.

He moved into a downtown apartment in Austin and the Austin Police Department complying with state law held a notification hearing for the public.

On March 6, Corscadden was observed viewing pornographic material on a Job Center of Minnesota computer at Riverland Community College, where he had permission to visit to apply for work.

It was the second instance in which Corscadden was using the Internet to view pornography.

According to the DOC, Corscadden was classed a Level III (the highest classification) offender for felony criminal sexual misconduct charges. His victims have ranged in age from 8 to adult.

If he is found guilty of violating the conditions of his parole, he will be returned to prison.

Drugs discovered

Darrel Luce, 40 of Becker, was jailed early Monday and faces charges of drug possession.

Austin police were called to an apartment in the downtown area at 207 Second Street SE at 1:08 a.m. Monday. Residents of the apartment recognized Luce and told police they suspected he was dealing drugs.

Austin Police Department officers stopped Luce’s car as it was attempting to leave the Downtown Plaza parking lot.

In plain site was a marijuana cigarette and when the Mower County Sheriff’s Department canine unit, Cleo, searched the vehicle, other drugs were found, including methamphetamines as well as drug paraphernalia.

In addition, Luce was carrying a pipe used to smoke marijuana and a long knife, according to the report.

Quantities of cigarettes in cartons and batteries were also discovered in the vehicle.

Luce remains in the Mower County Jail pending charges to be filed by the Mower County Attorney