Posted: 10/25/05
Juveniles charged with car theft, burglary
Two Caledonia juveniles were charged with felony offenses on October 20 in juvenile court in Caledonia.
Danny Lund, 16, and another male juvenile, 15, were charged with motor vehicle use without consent, terroristic threats, second and third degree burglary, and theft of a firearm.
The car theft allegedly occurred in Caledonia from a man who did not know his car was stolen. Houston County deputies stopped the vehicle in the early morning hours of October 17 near the intersection of Highways 16 and 26.
The terroristic threats charges stem from the conduct of the juveniles and comments made to authorities at that time, Houston County assistant attorney Sue Harnack said on October 21.
The burglary charges are connected to a burglary that occurred in Hokah over the weekend of October 16-17. Burglars entered a locked garage attached to the residence by breaking a window, then breaking into a locked storage area inside the garage.
Two firearms were stolen, a shotgun and a .22 rifle, valued at $700. They were later recovered at a Caledonia residence.
Lund is also being charged with underaged consumption by a driver, open bottle, no Minnesota drivers license, and speeding. He was also wanted on a felony warrant for violating terms of probation in connection with prior offenses of third degree burglary, motor vehicle theft, tampering with a motor Vehicle and carrying a weapon without a permit.
Lund is currently in detention at a juvenile facility at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing. His next court appearance is set for October 26 at 10:15. The other juvenile is in Many Rivers Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Rochester. His next court appearance hadnít been set as of October 24.
There are three jurisdictions in the case, Harnack said, because the traffic stop was made by Houston County Sheriffís Department, the burglary occurred in Hokah, and the car theft happened in Caledonia. Reports overlap and help each other out in sorting out the details of the investigation, Harnack said. ìKind of a joint effort kind of thing.î
The names of juveniles over age 16 who have committed felony offenses are public information.
Utke plea hearing set
A plea hearing for a Freeburg man charged with making terroristic treats has been set for November 7.
Terry Joseph Utke, 52, New Albin, Iowa, originally pled not guilty on May 23 to making terroristic threats, a felony, and violation of harassment restraining order, a gross misdemeanor. He requested a trial, which was set for October 19. That was cancelled.
On May 9, Utke allegedly confronted a man who was reading an electrical meter on property which adjoins Utkeís in Crooked Creek Township. Utke called him names, took pictures of him, and said he was ìgoing to kill him,î according to the criminal complaint.
The man, who had a restraining order on Utke, told authorities that he was scared and that Utke was going to kill him.
Sheep killing trial set
A trial date for two people charged with owning a dog that killed domestic livestock that had been set for October 14 has been changed to November 7.
Travis Moen of Spring Grove and Sara Burfield of Black Hammer Township were issued petty misdemeanor citation for an April 21 incident in which two Rottweilers killed 11 sheep belonging to Burfieldís neighbors, Robert and Roxanne Finnesgard. Both Moen and Burfield pled not guilty. Roxanne Finnesgard told The Argus on August 16 that three more sheep had to be put down due to the attack, and 14 more were severely injured.
Drug case under advisement
The drug case against a Santa Clarita, California man is under advisement.
Paul John Karich, 49, was charged in Third District Court on September 7 with possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a felony. An omnibus hearing was held on September 26, where Karichís attorney filed papers to have the charges dismissed.
Karich was arrested outside a gas station in Hokah on September 5 after the sheriffís department received a call about him loitering there and harassing people. The officer became suspicious and inspected the manís bags, which allegedly contained 575 grams of marijuana, or 1.26 pounds.
Karich was also charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He is currently in jail in Goodhue County in Red Wing because the jail in Caledonia is full. Bail is $20,000 unconditional and $10,000 conditional.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com