Man gets five years in prison for gun crime, stolen property

LITCHFIELD -- Gerald Leroy Fleshman, 51, of Eden Valley, was sentenced Wednesday to 60 months in prison on felony charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon and for receiving stolen property.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Steven E. Drange in Meeker County District Court.

Fleshman was arrested July 20 after police officers searched his Eden Valley property and another location in Manannah Township. They found vast quantities of stolen property from thefts reported in Meeker, Renville, Kandiyohi and Stearns counties.

Fleshman was ordered to pay $100 in fines with his prison earnings. He was given credit for 64 days served in jail. Restitution was reserved for 30 days in the three court files against him.

As part of a plea agreement, seven additional felony charges for weapons possession by a felon and drug possession were dismissed.

The stolen items recovered by law enforcement included hand and power tools, ATVs, trailers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, generators, fishing equipment, construction equipment and boat motors.

The Meeker County Sheriff's Office has identified and returned property to more than 60 people, but about two-thirds of the property remains unclaimed, Sheriff Jeff Norlin said.

"We are hoping people call us," if they are missing items, Norlin said. "We are trying to get the word out."

Victims of thefts within the past nine months are asked to call the sheriff's office at 320-693-5400 and speak to an investigator to determine if their items were recovered.