Caledonia Argus

Two men charged with vandalism, theft

Posted: 2/12/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Two Caledonia men, Jesse Lee O'Bieglo, 18, and Keith Allen Schroeder, 18, were charged in Houston County District Court Friday, February 8, with causing $18,500 in property damage to a shelter Beaver Creek Valley State Park. Two more separate complaints for property damage, burglary and theft were filed that same day for $50,000 in damage to the site of the new school and to a house in Yucatan Township.

Thanks to the detective work of the Houston County Sheriffís office and the Caledonia Police Department, the charges were filed less than a week after the vandalism occurred.

According to the complaint, O'Bieglo and Schroeder admitted to going on an apparent crime spree during the early morning hours of Monday, February 4.

The two admitted to trying to burglarize a home in the Yucatan Township. After breaking a window the unlocking the door, they entered the house. The two left the scene after a burglar alarm sounded. The Houston County Sheriffís Office was alerted of the the alarm at 4:00 a.m. through a security system that had been installed.

The Beaver Creek Valley State Park reported that all of its windows a shelter were broken or damaged. The damage was estimated at $18,500. Also a locked gate was damage. Blue and orange paint transfer was found on the padlock and chain locking the gate. The paint transfer was eventually used to help solve the crime.

The construction site of the new middle school high school had up to $50,000 in damage.

OíBieglo and Schroeder admitted to spraying graffiti on the walls, pouring red fire caulk on the floor, setting fire to some papers, pushing some electrical equipment off a ledge in the auditorium, driving a forklift and smashing it into some building supplies, and causing damage to walls with a sledgehammer and an ATV. They also admitted to stealing a propane torch kit, an electrical cord, and two 12 packs of pop for a total of $367 value of stolen items.

After using the Minnesota BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) computer to scan the tire tracks, it appeared the vehicle used was a pre-1994 two door Chevy S-10 Blazer.

On Wednesday, February 6, at 10:32 p.m., Tracie Erickson of the Houston County Sheriffís Office stopped a 1989 Chevy Blazer on County #44.

When Caledonia Police Officer Jim Stemper arrived on the scene, he noticed that there was fresh damage to the orange and blue dealer plate of the vehicle and the bottom of Schroederís boots matched those tracks that were left at the school site.

Schroeder was driving the vehicle.

ìGlitchî results in low bail

A glitch in the Houston County Attorneyís Office Friday, February 8, may have given the vandals a break in how much they had to post for bail.

Schroeder and O'Bieglo appeared in court and were only charged with $18,500 in damage to the Beaver Creek Valley State Park, first degree criminal damage to property, a felony. But the charges for vandalism of the new school site and home in Yucatan Township were not filed until later that day because they were not ready.

Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson said he was given the police information that morning and had the complaints ready in the computer when the glitch occurred a few hours before court.

ìWhen we went to get it out of the computer, it wasnít there. We basically had to start over (shortly after 10 a.m. and court was at 11:30 a.m.). We did what we were supposed to do; it was a glitch.î

Therefore, District Judge James Fabian could only look at the Beaver Creek charges when setting bail.

Unconditional bail was set at $10,000 and conditional bail at $5,000. Both individuals posted the full $5,000 bail later on Friday.

Charges for the damage to the school site and to the house in Yucatan Township were filed and will be charged in the form of a summons, which is scheduled for Thursday, February 14, at 3:30 p.m.

Charges for the house are attempted burglary and criminal damage to property, both felonies and for the school site charges are felony burglary, Con
felony criminal damage to property and gross misdemeanor theft.

The second appearance for the charge of vandalism to Beaver Creek is set for Friday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m.

Some board members, ISD #299 Superintendent Percy Lingen, Elementary Principal Brian Doty, Secondary Principal Connie Hesse, Sheriff Mike Lee and Caledonia Police Chief Duane St. Mary were present for Schroeder and OíBiegloís arraignment. Also present were family members of the two.

Board members didnít have much to say about the attorney officeís glitch. But Board Chair Cheryl Whitesitt did say, ìI think the police have done a great job. It was quick. I commend them for their hard work.î

On the bail amount Sheriff Lee said, ìYou canít blame the judge. The judge had to look at whatís in front of him. He did what he could. What it amounts to is that not all the charges were there.î

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