Motivational Speaker Sentenced for Attempted Murder
Former motivational speaker, Russel James Simon Jr., was sentenced Thursday in Isanti County Court.
The 45-year-old was sentenced on two counts of second degree attempted murder and one count of felony possession of a firearm.
Simon will serve 240 months, or 20 years, for one of the attempted murder charges, and 213 months for the other. The firearms charge carries a penalty of five years in prison. All the sentences run concurrently.
Simon shot at a man and a woman at a rural Isanti residence in May. He also broke the man’s nose with a statue.
The Isanti County attorney’s office tells Red Rock Radio that Simon spoke in front of Judge James Dehn for about an hour at Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
Simon speaks to over 250,000 teens and parents throughout the country on drug and alcohol abuse and violence, according to his website, RussellSimon.com.



JK 12/12/08 at 4:09pm
240 months equals 20 years, not 2 years, which is it?