- A Clara City man was released on his own recognizance after he made his first appearance Wednesday before Judge Michael Thompson on a felony charge of theft of more than $1,000 but less than $5,000.
The criminal complaint charges Joseph Alan Raveling, 23, with stealing $1,080 between June 30 and July 22 while he worked as an accountant in an office area for Wal-Mart in Willmar. He signed a statement admitting to the theft, the complaint states.
Video revealed during the period he worked at Wal-Mart that he would frequent the safe where he would have no work-related reason to do so. This was an area where the cash was stored. On July 22, video revealed Raveling took $20 from a cash register, put the money in his pocket, then went to the safe, took $20 and placed that money in the cash register.
- Rachel Paula O'Brien, 49, of Willmar made her first appearance on Tuesday before Judge Michael Thompson on felony charges of second-degree conspiracy to commit controlled substance crime and third-degree controlled substance crime.
A warrant had been issued for her arrest. She was released from custody Wednesday night.
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O'Brien is charged with conspiring with another to unlawfully sell 3 or more grams of methamphetamine on one or more occasions from Feb. 11 through March 12 and is charged with selling 2.7 grams of methamphetamine on Dec. 7, 2007, all in Willmar.
The complaint states that a regional narcotics agent received information on Dec. 7 from a confidential informant that O'Brien was willing to sell drugs to the informant. O'Brien is alleged to have sold the drugs to a state undercover agent for $300 at O'Brien's residence at 344 Robert St.
Also, the complaint states that O'Brien spoke to the agent on several occasions during the period of Feb. 11-14 about the agent buying 3.5 grams of methamphetamine for $375, and that O'Brien talked to the agent on two occasions during March 12 and 13 about buying one-half ounce of meth on Feb. 14 for $800 to $850. Neither sale was completed, according to the complaint.
