Posted: 2/8/05
Juvenile pleads guilty in car thefts, assault
A Caledonia juvenile charged with two car thefts pled guilty at a plea hearing on February 7.
Joshua David Goetzinger, 17, pled guilty to motor vehicle use without consent and theft stemming from a January 2 incident.
He also pled guilty to motor vehicle theft from a November, 2004 incident, and he pled guilty to assault in the second degree and criminal damage to property in an October, 2004 incident.
Sentencing has not been scheduled yet. He was represented by public defenders Samuel Jandt and Jim Schultz in the three cases.
Jamie Ann Foellmi, 16, who was with Goetzinger at the time of the January 2 incident, faces a felony charge of receiving stolen property. Her trial is set for March 9 at 10:30 a.m. She is also facing pending felony gross misdemeanor delinquency charges for obstruction of the legal process in December, 2004.
Sentencing rescheduled
The disposition for Jarret Richard Meyer, 17, of New Albin, Iowa, has been rescheduled for March 16 at 1:30 p.m. in District Court in Caledonia.
Meyer was charged with shooting a cow and calf in rural Caledonia last summer. He pled guilty in the case on November 17 to one count of criminal damage to property in the first degree, a felony, and one county of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor.
His trial had been set for January 19, but was postponed because he is in the La Crosse County Jail. He has been charged there with theft and attempted transfer of a stolen firearm, both felonies. He has a plea/sentencing hearing at 2:30 p.m. on February 9.
Felony charges are public information for juveniles age 16 or older.
Polus trial March 24-25
In another court matter, Wayne A. Polus, 48, of La Crescent will stand trial on March 24 and 25 on charges of third degree criminal sexual conduct in an alleged August 2004 incident in La Crescent. He has pled not guilty and is free on $20,000 unconditional bond.
Third District Court Judge James Fabian decided on January 3 to proceed with the sexual assault charges. He denied defense motions at a December 31 omnibus hearing.
Polus allegedly assaulted a woman while she was sleeping on a couch at his parentsí home, where he resides, early on the morning of August 29.
Third degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and/or $30,000 fine.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com