Coin drop marks sobriety

While all graduations are meaningful, Hanah Maas was able to double-down.

She was the 113^th graduate of the Steele-Waseca Drug Court, “and it’s a really great day, because it coincides with you having over a year of sobriety,” said Judge Joseph Bueltel.

“I don’t know that we’ve ever had it line up so right.”

A lot of things are lining up right for Maas, who is expecting a child and planning to buy a house to “offer the best support and structure for our child,” she said at last week’s graduation.

“I plan to continue to grow and learn with my full effort and full consciousness,” she said, “as I now have a way to do so. I’m truly grateful for this program opening my eyes, and for being able to keep pushing me further to do my best – and showing me my full potential.”

Maas was young when she was referred to the program, just 20 years old.

The mission statement of the intensive monitoring program is clear: to “collaboratively reduce crime, increase public safety, lower recidivism, rehabilitate offenders and re-integrate them into the community with the means to become contributing members of society.”

“Hanah started in April 2022,” said Nicole Grams, coordinator of the drug court. “When she came to us, she was … a kid. You didn’t have a lot of direction at that time … you were kind of at a standstill in your life.”

What Maas did have was a pair of felony cases, for controlled substance and theft, making her a good candidate for drug court.

After completing the program and a period of supervision, the felonies will drop from her record.

“Hanah has 375 days of sobriety,” Grams said, “and she has worked very hard to overcome a lot of different things. She has risen as a leader at her employment; she’s also risen as somebody people can connect with in the recovery community. Congratulations – you are still very young and have an amazing journey ahead of you.”

Kaiya Martin, a probation officer with Steele County Community Corrections, told Maas that throughout her time in the program, “you demonstrated your commitment to yourself and to your family, and wanting to continuously improve your life and work on bettering yourself.”

Others offering their congratulations included representatives of the Owatonna Police Department; the Steele County Attorney’s office; Minnesota Prairie County Alliance; Steele County Public Defender’s office and a former Steele County commissioner.

“From the first time I met you, you’ve always been very … just honorable,” said Rick Gnemi, who was a commissioner from 2016-2024. “You’ve done your best to work yourself out of your situation, and I commend you.”

Maas’s mother, father, stepfather, two sisters and her boyfriend also praised her work.

“Thank you for this program … and for wanting people to grow,” said Ben Maas, addressing the drug court staff as well as the other members still working the program. “Don’t just lay in bed and think of your dreams – get out and chase them.”

After pausing to collect his emotions, he encouraged his daughter to “continue to do good; you’re proving everybody wrong. I want you to embrace how much people believe in you, and how much everybody here loves you.”

Hanah Maas acknowledged the love and support she felt as she reflected on her “growth and struggles in this program.”

Before drug court, she said, “I was on a rough road. I was fighting, getting arrested, calling in to work, making terrible friend choices and bad relationships… It was the very low points in my life” that led her to the program.

“I’m not proud of my past, but it’s turned me into the person I am today,” she said.

In that time, Maas completed an inpatient program and two outpatient programs, got her driver’s license back, paid all of her fines and completed her community service – while finding employment and maintaining her sobriety.

The success has been physical, emotional and mental, Maas said.

“This has been a huge eye-opener for me, and truly one of my biggest accomplishments for myself,” she said. “I can seriously tell how much my way of thinking has changed, and the people around me have noticed, as well.”

Bueltel, the judge who once may have sentenced her, instead presented Maas a graduation plaque and year sobriety coin.

“You’re so set up for success,” he said, “and I’m just so proud of where you’re at.”