Plea deal reached in 1985 Winona County homicide

A man accused of helping in a 1985 murder has pleaded guilty to new charges in an agreement with prosecutors in Winona County.

James Raymond Bolstad entered the pleas to three counts of aiding an offender in the murder of Ada Senenfelder. The 63-year-old Bolstad admitted that he lied to police about the murder.

Senenfelder accused Bolstad of sexually assaulting her daughter, a story she later recanted. Prosecutors charged Bolstad and two of his friends with murder.

A grand jury indictment against Bolstad was dismissed last October after a judge ruled inadmissible evidence unfairly prejudiced the jury. Prosecutors planned to convene a new grand jury, but instead amended the original indictment to add the three new charges and settle the case.

Bolstad was released from custody pending sentencing on Feb. 17 in Winona District Court.

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Information from: Winona Daily News

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