Dawn Jean Meyer, 34, of Kerkhoven made her first appearance Monday on eight felony charges stemming from the burglary last month of a rural Lake Lillian home.
She faces two charges of first-degree burglary, four charges of theft, and two charges of receiving stolen property.
She appeared in court after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Meyer was released after posting a $1,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Meyer was charged after the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office investigated a burglary June 11at a rural Lake Lillian residence. The family room-living room and master bedroom were ransacked, items were lying around and drawers had been opened.
Taken were a stereo system, a Play Station II device and about 30 Play Station games, a computer system, beer, four long guns, a Ruger handgun, a metal box containing five knives, a sewing machine and a small jar containing cash and change.
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Pry marks were seen on the back door of the home and two tire tracks on the north side appeared to have been from the suspect's vehicle, the complaint states. While ransacking the home, a small digital alarm clock had been grabbed, leaving a noticeable thumbprint, the complaint said. The clock was secured as evidence.
The complaint said one of the homeowners suspected Meyer of being involved in the burglary. Meyer is an ex-girlfriend of the now-deceased brother of one of the homeowners.
The complaint said the homeowner and Meyer had had an argument over a jar of change that had been taken from the home. The homeowner found the coin jar missing and confronted Meyer about the jar.
Later, the homeowner learned that Meyer had borrowed $10 from the homeowner's son. The complaint says Meyer called relatives of one of the homeowners, asking if they were working, so that she could repay the money. The owners were later told about the calls and returned home to find their house had been burglarized.
The complaint states that Meyer and three other people were involved in the burglary.
During a five-week investigation, officers executed a search warrant on June 17 at the Meyer residence in Kerkhoven where they recovered a binocular set, three DVDs and five Play Station II games taken from the Lake Lillian home.
Other items that had been stolen during the burglary were recovered at a Willmar apartment. The complaint states that the Play Station II system, 12 games and a CD stereo system were pawned on June 13 and that the items were recovered July 2 at a St. Cloud pawn shop.
The charges of first-degree burglary and first-degree burglary - liability for crimes of another allege four long guns and a loaded handgun were taken from the residence. Maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years or a $35,000 fine or both.
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The first theft charge alleges Meyer took the four long guns and loaded handgun, and the second theft charge alleges Meyer intentionally counseled or conspired with another person to take the guns. The maximum penalty upon conviction of either charge is 20 years in prison or a $100,000 fine or both.
The third theft charge alleges Meyer stole numerous personal property items valued at more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, and the fourth theft charge alleges Meyer conspired with another to steal the items. The maximum penalty on each charge is 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.
Also, Meyer is charged with receiving stolen property with a value of more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, and she is charged with aiding and abetting in the receipt of stolen property valued at more than $1,000 but less than $5,000.
