County Approves Special Attorney For Homicide Trial

The Roosevelt County Commissioners approved having a special deputy attorney assist the Roosevelt County Attorney’s office for an upcoming deliberate homicide case during a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 26.

The attorney will serve for the case involving Brianna Jensen-Rowe who is facing the charge of deliberate homicide along with three other charges in district court. The 18-year-old woman is accused of killing her sister, Jalinn Marie Jensen-Rowe, on Aug. 3 in Wolf Point.

“It’s something we have done in the past,” Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said of having state attorney assistance. “It gives expertise from the state attorney’s office.”

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved resolutions for elected officials’ salaries and the county attorney’s salary for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

The pay increase is $2,075 to the elected official base salary for fiscal year 20242025. Commissioners said the increase is in line with the 3 percent negotiated for the union pay increase for fiscal year 2024-2025. The county attorney and deputy county attorney also received $2,075 annual raises.

With the increase, the clerk and recorder’s salary will be $71,237.

Oelkers said Roosevelt County ranks 17th in the state for county elected officials’ salaries.