Man shot by police to stand trial July 30
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 6, 2002
Randall Romeo Caron, 32, who was charged for assaulting a woman and two police officers before being shot by one of them last November, will face a four-day jury trial starting July 30.
Caron is accused of repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend, Annette Marie Lestrud, 33, at her residence on East Front Street Nov. 10, 2001. The police found Caron hiding in the woods near Railroad Avenue the following day.
The criminal complaint says that Caron lunged at officer Jesus Cantu, pointing a knife at him. Cantu shot Caron twice in the chest from the distance of five to 10 feet. Caron spent four days in the hospital.
County Attorney Craig Nelson has submitted a witness list that has around 25 names ranging from local and state investigators, including Officer Cantu, to a medical expert.
Caron discharged his public defender last month and appointed Frank Schulte, a St. Paul-based attorney. Nelson said that he offered to reduce the police-assault charges to second-degree in exchange for a confession on the first-degree assault charge on Lestrud, but Caron refused.