Cass Co. Judge Delays Norberg Trial
by Kiersten Cooley, KVRR Reporter
July 11, 2012
A Cass County Judge has delayed the trial for a Fargo surgeon accused of drugging and sexually abusing his wife.
Dr. Jon Norberg is charged with using a prescription painkiller on his wife, Dr. Alonna Norberg, then raping her multiple
The trial for Norberg has been moved from August 28th to November 5th, after the defense requested more time.
Norberg appeared in Cass County Court where his attorney Robert Hoy also made a motion to compel discovery, meaning they had an issue with information provided by an investigator hired by Alonna Norberg's divorce attorney.
The Norberg's civil divorce case is going on during Jon Norberg's criminal matter, creating challenges for both sides.
Cass County Prosecutor Gary Euren said, “When we’re talking about a AA felony, it’s very important. We just have to be very careful how we intertwine the civil and the criminal, and there isn’t always a lot of guidance out there in the case law about it either.”
Norberg is charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition and reckless endangerment, all felonies.
Prosecutors say he injected his wife with a powerful anesthetic called propofol, the same drug that killed Michael Jackson.
They say he raped her numerous times over a year and a half, while she was unconscious.
Prosecutors say despite the lengthy legal battle that's now delayed, they're not worried.
“Nothing really changed. We’re still confident in the case we can present to a jury and we’re confident we’ll be able to convince a jury of our position,” Euren said.
If Norberg is found guilty in his November trial, he faces up to life in prison.
