Awada takes deal; charge to be dropped

Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)

Author: Jim Adams

Staff Writer

Michael Awada, husband of State Auditor Pat Awada, entered into a court agreement Monday under which a gross misdemeanor charge of malicious punishment of a child will be dismissed if he and his teenage son get counseling.

Awada, 39, of Eagan was accused last month of hitting his 15-year-old son with a chair during an argument, after the boy came home two hours late from bicycling.

The charge will be dismissed in a year if Awada and his son get individual counseling, have a social service follow-up and Awada remains law-abiding, said Monica Jensen, spokeswoman for the Dakota County attorney's office.

She said Awada admitted in court to getting into a heated argument after his son got home late and lied to him. Awada admitted picking up a chair that hit his son's arm, and he agreed that was extreme punishment, Jensen said. The arm was swollen, but no bones were broken.

``My son and I both tremendously regret that the incident occurred,'' Michael Awada said. ``A month later we are working harmoniously and taking all necessary measures to make sure this never happens again. . . . I love my son very much, and I am sure he loves me. We want to be together peacefully in the same household.''