Brinton was charged with stealing a traveler’s baggage worth a total of $2,325 from the luggage carousel at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on Sept. 16 after flying in from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
Sam Brinton ( Photo: MEAWW )
Sam Brinton, a non-binary former senior Department of Energy official, has agreed to a mental health evaluation as part of an adult diversion program
Sam Brinton will be required to have a mental health evaluation, write a letter of apology to the victim, return any stolen property, and complete three days of community service.
The adult diversion program referred to first-time offenders to social services, chemical dependency, or mental health resources. First-time offenders are closely monitored to make sure they meet program expectations, including accountability, taking advantage of services offered, remaining law-abiding, completing community service, and paying restitution. Every successful diversion reduces costs in the criminal justice system and reduces the number of repeat offenders.
Brinton was charged with felony theft of a movable property without consent, which could result in a five-year sentence, a $10,000 fine, or both under Minnesota state statute.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office didn’t respond to a request for comment
Last week, Brinton escaped jail time in a similar case in Nevada. A judge ordered Brinton to pay $3,670.74 to the victim in that case and $500 in additional fees, including a criminal fine. In early December, Las Vegas prosecutors charged Brinton with grand larceny of an item valued between $1,200 and $5,000.
Police accused Brinton of stealing a suitcase with a total estimated worth of $3,670 on July 6, 2022, at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The bag contained jewelry valued at $1,700, clothing worth $850, and makeup valued at $500.
Brinton made headlines in June 2022 after being appointed to the position that oversees nuclear waste policy at the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy as a non-binary gender-fluid person. After Brinton was charged in October, the DOE quietly put Brinton on leave. The agency then announced on Dec. 12 that Brinton had departed the agency but wouldn’t comment on the reason for the departure.
