MSOP client pleads guilty, will be sentenced Friday

A sex offender at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program in Moose Lake pleaded guilty to felony premeditated first-degree attempted murder last week.

George Mack Jr., 42, was charged with premeditated first-degree attempted murder as well as fourth-degree assault in Carlton County Sixth District Court Thursday, Jan. 31. He pleaded guilty to both charges Feb. 25 and will be sentenced Friday, March 8.

According to the criminal complaint, here's how the incident unfolded:

MSOP clinician Zachary Campbell was leading a large community meeting in an open area of the facility on Jan. 29. The offenders were sitting in a large circle, facing one another. Mack was not a part of the meeting but video footage of the incident shows him walking along the back side of the circle, then lunging at Campbell, who was sitting in a chair.

The video footage allegedly shows Mack grab the victim's head while reaching around his throat with the other hand and making at least two cutting/slashing motions across the front of his throat. Campbell was able to avoid serious injury by lowering his chin, jumping out of his chair and running away from Mack, who then allegedly threw his weapon - a razor blade affixed to a toothbrush with dental floss and a rubber band - onto the floor and pursued the victim.

According to the criminal complaint, another staff member intercepted Mack, who punched the staff member several times in the chest and head. More staff members came to help subdue and secure Mack.

Carlton County attorney Lauri Ketola previously told the Pine Knot News that Mack says he doesn't like "treatment" and has assaulted people every time he goes to a treatment facility, so he can be sent back to prison. He already had sentences that could keep him in prison until 2037 prior to the February attack, she said, but parts of the sentences were stayed so he could be sent to treatment.

According to his criminal records, Mack pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual assault in Fillmore County in 1996 and was sentenced to 42 months confinement. In 1998 he was convicted of third- and fourth-degree sexual assault in Fillmore County and sentenced to 76 months confinement. He has also been convicted of two fourth- and one fifth-degree assault charges while at the Moose Lake facility as well as third-degree assault in Stillwater.