By Patrick Tepoorten

When Donald Joseph Ramberg decided to check on his motherís vacant farm house in Harris on the morning of March 22, he did not expect to break up an all-night drinking and sex party, but that is exactly what he did. According to criminal complaints filed in the matter, Ramberg happened upon as many as eight people, male and female, who immediately fled the residence in a red Ford Taurus.

Ramberg knew something was amiss as soon as he drove up to the house on one of his occasional check-ups. There was a car in the garage, the blinds were pulled and the kitchen window was broken.

ìI knew someone was in there,î he said. Angry, Ramberg charged in the house through one door as the party-goers were headed out another.

In their wake was left floors with vomit on them, pop and other stains on the carpet, feces in a non-working toilet, broken windows, cut screens, and trashed furniture. Ramberg stated that the suspects discharged fire extinguishers in the house as well.

Two of the suspects, Steven Mark Rohde, 20, and Cory Michael Eggers, 19, both of North Branch, were later seen walking out of the woods and picked up by a state trooper. Rohde admitted to being at the house.

According to descriptions by various suspects, Rohde, Eggers, Derik John Zoch, 19, of Stacy, and a juvenile male picked up four juvenile females at one of their residences and took a bottle of alcohol from that residence. After picking up some pop for ìmix,î they arrived at 5052 440th St. in Harris between 9 and 10 p.m.

What followed is described in criminal complaints as ìmultiple reports of sexual conduct between the males and the females.î

One juvenile female, 14, claimed she spent the night with Eggers. Another juvenile female, 12, said she and Zoch ìkissedî and that Zoch attempted to touch her, but she said no.

Chisago County investigators estimate the damage done to the house in excess of $500.

Ramberg, who believes that figure will rise when the damage is fully calculated, is distraught at the condition of his family home.

ìTo them it was just a broken down house. To me it was where I grew up, where my father died of cancer. This will now be my last memory of the house. Itís just terrible.î

Ramberg was quick to credit the Chisago County Sheriffís Dept. and Minnesota State Troopers for their quick response. He stated that law enforcement was on the scene ìwithin two minutes,î and have been keeping him informed on day to day events in the case. ìThey have done a super job,î he said.

Zoch has been charged with 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a penalty of up to 12.5 years in jail and/or a $17,000 fine. He has also been charged with third degree burglary, felony damage to property, trespassing, and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Eggers has been charged with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine. Other charges Eggers faces include third degree burglary, felony damage to property, trespassing, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rohde was ticketed for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Eggers and Zoch had their Rule 8 hearings on March 27 and were released on $5,000 bail.

They are scheduled to appear in front of District Court Judge John R. McBride for an omnibus hearing on June 27, with a jury trial scheduled for July 10.