Lia Pearson

Co. Atty. Complaint No.: 2137367-2

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STATE OF MINNESOTA

DISTRICT COURT

COUNTY OF RAMSEY

SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT

COURT FILE NO.: _____________
PROSECUTOR FILE NO.: 2137367

State of Minnesota,
Plaintiff,

v.
Lia Pearson
(DOB: 12/04/1977)
811 - 8th St., #5
Farmington, MN 55024,

FELONY
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
Summons
Warrant
Order of Detention
Amended
Certified Juvenile
EJJ

Defendant.
The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and states that there is
probable cause to believe that the Defendant committed the following offense(s):
COUNT 1
On or about the 11th day of January, 2015 to the 12th day of February, 2015, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, the
defendant, LIA PEARSON, did unlawfully, as a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker of a child, endanger the
childs person or health by intentionally or recklessly causing or permitting the child to be placed in a situation
likely to substantially harm the childs physical, mental, or emotional health or cause the childs death, and
resulted in substantial harm to the childs physical, mental, or emotional health.
Said acts constituting the offense of Endangerment of a Child in violation of MN Statute: 609.378.1(b)(1)
Maximum Sentence: 5 years or $10,000 fine, or both

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STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

The Complainant states that the following facts establish probable cause:
Your complainant is an investigator with the Maplewood Police Department and bases this complaint upon a
review of reports and upon her own investigation.
On February 12, 2015, at approximately 11:03 hours, Maplewood squads responded to 2510 Barclay St. N.,
Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on a report of a baby who was not breathing.
Officers arrived at the address and were met by Leb Mike Meak, DOB 02/02/1980. Officers asked about the
child. He led officers downstairs to a bedroom. Officers saw an infant female, G.X., DOB 08/31/2013. She was
on her back. She was not moving. Her mouth and eyes were open. Her lips were purple and she did not have a
pulse. Medics arrived and began administering CPR. Police cut away the childs clothing and exposed a large
number of black and a purple bruises covering the childs stomach and chest. There was also a large bruise on
the left side of the childs face and other smaller bruises on her face.
Meak explained that G.X. is not his child. She belongs to his girlfriend. He identified her as LIA PEARSON,
DOB: 12/04/1977, hereinafter, the defendant. He said that she lives in Farmington, Minnesota, and currently
works in Burnsville, Minnesota. Meak said he has been watching the child at his home for approximately the
last two and weeks.
While medics were still working on G.X., the defendant arrived at the house. She confirmed that G.X. had been
staying with Meak and he had been caring for her because she lives in Farmington and works in Burnsville.
During formal interviews at the Maplewood Police Department, Meak admitted that he may have caused the
childs injuries. He said that every time he changes her diaper, she does get a little spanking but not to the point
where she passes out or anything. He thought that the bruises on her torso happened when he kind of
roughed her up little bit while changing her diaper or telling her to stay still while getting her bottle. He said if
she follows him, he grabs her around the torso and puts her on the bed. As he was talking about this, he gestured
and shook his arms. He said it is possible that he caused the injuries that caused her death. He may have
squeezed her too hard. The only time he roughed her up that morning was when she continued to try to get
out of bed. He said it was probably from the jerking. When he jerked her, she kind of froze a little bit. He
admitted that he shook G.X. a few times. He said that her head was dangling and she appeared lifeless when he
was shaking her.
G.X. died as a result of her injuries. Preliminary autopsy findings include multiple external injuries and multiple
internal injuries to the abdominal region and the head. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined that
this childs death is a homicide.
Leb Mike Meak was charged with Murder in the Second Degree in Ramsey County District Court for his role in
the death of G.X. That matter is pending.

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Leb Meak has two sons, E.T.M, DOB 08/29/2006, and I.P.M, DOB 04/29/2002, who lived in the lower level of
the home at 2510 Barclay with him during the time leading up to the death of G.X.
Detective Virginia Erickson of the Maplewood Police Department interviewed both boys, separately, on
February 17, 2015. Both boys stated that G.X. had been staying at their house for about a month. They said
that their dad kept G.X. in his room a lot of the time.
I.P.M. said, Sometimes I would hear my dad hitting [G.X.]. He said that he heard thumping sounds coming
from the bedroom. His dad said, Why did you do that, G.X.? Then he heard the hitting sounds. He said the
worst time was when his dad left her alone in the room and she messed it up. It bothered him the most when he
heard G.X. yell and scream when his dad hit her.
E.T.M. said that his dad hit G.X. when she didnt listen to him. His dad usually hit her in his room. He heard
yelling and hitting and the baby crying. He said it happened a lot. He said that he and his brother were
really sad for G.X. after she got a big bump on her head because she acted different. E.T.M. said that the
babys mom, Lia, knew what was happening to G.X. He said that he and his brother told her that their dad was
hitting G.X. He said that she acted worried but then told them not to tell their dad that they told her, or he and
his brother might get in trouble.
In a second interview on February 27, 2015, I.P.M. agreed that he and E.T.M. told Lia Pearson that their dad
was hitting G.X. He said she responded by saying, Oh, okay. He said that they told her quite a bit before
G.X. died. He also said that G.X. had visible bruises on her head and arms.
On February 12, 2015, the defendant told Erickson that she had known Leb Mike Meak for five years. She said
that they started hanging out together in July of 2014 and that they committed to a relationship with one
another in August, 2014. She said that G.X. had been staying with Meak for about a month, starting during the
week of January 11, and that he took care of G.X. Meak asked if G.X. could stay with him because he got
attached to her and liked taking care of her. She said he did not work. She said that she last saw G.X. on
February 1, and that G.X. had a large bruise on her forehead. Meak told her that he did not know how it
happened and that G.X. must have injured herself on his weight set. She said that G.X. also developed bruising
to the side of her face and two black eyes. She said she put ice on the bump, but did not take G.X. to a doctor.
Erickson conducted a second interview with the defendant on February 20. She admitted that I.P.M. and
E.T.M. talked to her about G.X. They said, Can you take her home please? They told her that they think their
dad hits G.X. She also admitted that she told the boys not to discuss this with their dad because she did not
want the boys to get hurt. She rationalized that the boys told her this because they did not want G.X. to live
with them and she thought the boys might have wanted to go live with their mom instead of their dad.
During the February 20 interview, Erickson asked the defendant if Meak had tried calling her from jail. She
said, No. Erickson then asked if she tried calling him. The defendant said, I dont even want to hear from
him. But because I wont have anything nice to say to him.
A review of Meaks recorded jail phone conversations revealed that the defendant and Meak had numerous
phone conversations during the time period from February 21, 2015, through April 14, 2015. On February 21,
she told Meak that G.X. forgives him. On February 22, she told him that she put $100 toward his phone calls.
He told her that she should have put some of that money toward food so he could get something to eat. On
February 24, she told him that she is angry at him but loves him in her heart. She said that when he gets out she
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will take him to G.X.s grave. She went on to say that she hurts because he is in jail. She asked him where
G.X. got all of her bruises. She told him that they had to have a closed casket. She said that she wanted to be
comforted in his arms. She said that she knows he is going through a lot and wishes that she could be with him.
On March 2, she told him that she thinks of him every day and she loves him and was hoping that he would call.
On March 7, she told him that she misses him and thinks about him every day. On March 18, she said that she
has not stopped caring about him and she thinks about him and G.X. every day. She said that if she didnt love
him, she wouldnt pick up the phone when he calls. They discussed a ring and he asked for her ring size. On
March 26, she told him that she worries about him while he is in jail. She said that he was there for her when
she needed him. She said that she loves him so much and she wants him to be her partner in life and in the
future. On March 30, she told him that she enlarged a photo of him to poster size and put it in her room. On
March 31, she told him that she sent money to him. On April 2, she told him that she loves him and is waiting
for him. She said, I am yours. On April 5, she told him that she would send a photo of herself to him. On
April 7, he asked her to put some money into his account and she agreed to do so. On April 9, she told him that
she loves him and that she cant change how her heart feels. On April 11, they discussed a scented letter that
she sent to him. On April 14, Meak asked her if she is still in the building. She said that she is outside and that
it is too bad that he doesnt have windows. Meak told her that they will be together when he is 39 or 40 if she
does her part.
The defendant left G.X. in the care of Leb Mike Meak after she saw injuries on her child and after others in the
home told her that the Meak was hitting her child.

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Complainant requests that Defendant, subject to bail or conditions of release, be:
(1) arrested or that other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court; or
(2) detained, if already in custody, pending further proceedings; and that said Defendant otherwise be dealt
with according to law.
COMPLAINANTS NAME:

COMPLAINANTS SIGNATURE:

Virginia Erickson

____________________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned this ______ day of _________, 20_____.
NAME/TITLE:

SIGNATURE:

____________________________________

____________________________________

Being authorized to prosecute the offenses charged, I approve this complaint.

Date: 04/21/2015

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS SIGNATURE:

____________________________________
Name: Steven R. Pfaffe
Assistant Ramsey County Attorney
345 Wabasha Street North, Suite 120
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-266-3222/js
Attorney Registration #169274

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FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE

From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have determined
that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendants arrest or other lawful steps
be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court, or Defendants detention, if already in custody, pending further proceedings.
Defendant is therefore charged with the above-stated offense.

SUMMONS
THEREFORE YOU, THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear on the 15th day of May, 2015
at 1:20 PM before the above-named court at Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center, 425 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 to
answer this complaint.
IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR in response to this SUMMONS, a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST shall be issued.

Execute in MN Only

WARRANT
Execute Nationwide

Execute in Border States

To the Sheriff of the above-named county; or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I hereby order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the above-named Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the abovenamed court (if in session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not
later than 36 hours after the arrest or as soon as such Judge or Judicial Officer is available to be dealt with according to law.

ORDER OF DETENTION
Since the above-named Defendant is already in custody, I hereby order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the above-named
Defendant continue to be detained pending further proceedings.

Bail:
Conditions of Release:
This complaint, duly subscribed and sworn to, is issued by the undersigned Judicial Officer this ______ day of _____________,
20_____.
JUDICIAL OFFICER:
NAME:
TITLE:

SIGNATURE:
___________________________________

Sworn testimony has been given before the Judicial Officer by the following witnesses:
COUNTY OF RAMSEY Clerks Signature or File Stamp:

STATE OF MINNESOTA
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Plaintiff,
vs.
LIA PEARSON
Defendant.

RETURN OF SERVICE
I hereby Certify and Return that I have served a copy of this
COMPLAINT upon the Defendant herein named.
Signature of Authorized Service Agent:
_________________________________

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FINDINGS OF FACT

Probable cause found that defendant committed the offenses charged.

Ordered defendant's motion to dismiss denied.
Plea of not guilty to all counts entered.
Trial and hearing on all issues set.

Dated: ________________________

_______________________________________
JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT

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DEFENDANT DATA / CHARGE SHEET ATTACHMENT A

DEFENDANT NAME: LIA PEARSON

DOB: 12/04/1977

Defendant alias name(s):

Alias DOB(s):

Defendant last known

address:

811 - 8th St., #5

Farmington, MN 55024

State ID:
Fingerprint ID:
FBI ID:
St. Paul PD ID:
Offender ID:

OTHER DEFENDANT / CASE IDENTIFIERS:

Fingerprinted?

No

No
Handgun permit?
Location of violation:
IF DRIVING OFFENSE:
Driver's License
Number:
License Plate
Number:
Accident Type:
No injury/no damage
check all that apply
Personal Injury
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC):

Yes
Yes (Issuing Agency:

Issuing State:
Issuing State:
Property Damage
Fatality

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FELONY SUMMONS COMPLAINT
CT OFFENSE STATUTE STATUTE
NO DATE
TYPE
NBR

1 01/11/2015
to
02/12/2015

Charge

609.378.1(b)(1)

STATUTE
DESCRIPTION

Endanger Child-Situation
Could Cause Harm or
Death-Results Sub Harm
Physical/Emot Health-F

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OFFENSE
LEVEL

MOC

G
O
C

AGENCY
ORI
CN NBR
FUNCTION

I1106

N Maplewood Police
Dept
ORI - MN0620400
CN - 15003882
Charging