District Court, Kandiyohi County
- A Willmar man was sentenced Wednesday to 111 days in jail, which he's already served, and five years of probation for allegedly breaking into several vehicles
According to the criminal complaint, Matthew Shane Michener, 18, broke into three vehicles between July 31 and Aug. 3.
The complaint says he stole several items from the vehicles, including CDs, DVD players, wallets and cellular phones.
On Aug. 3, a man called police to report that his vehicle had been broken into at 905 U.S. Hwy. 12 W. He suspected a young man who he'd seen across the street sitting on a bench, the complaint says.
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He described the young man and later police came across Michener, who fit that description. When police pulled over, Michener ran. They were later able to catch up with him and recover several stolen items on him and several items he'd dropped along the way, the complaint says.
Michener entered an Alford plea to the theft count, meaning he agrees there is enough evidence to convict him, but doesn't admit guilt.
One count of receiving stolen property and one count of fourth-degree criminal damage to property were dismissed.
He was also fined $1,687 and will have to pay restitution of $141.90. He will have to do a gambling addiction pre-assessment and complete a chemical dependency treatment program, aftercare and live in halfway housing.
He will also have to attend a property crime impact panel and do victim-offender mediation.
He was sentenced by Judge Donald Spilseth.
- A Hawick couple was sentenced Wednesday on charges they unlawfully accepted $10,593.37 in medical assistance and food stamps at a time when both of them were gainfully employed.
According to the criminal complaint, Janet Eileen Clark, 51, and Jack Leroy Clark, 53, received medical assistance and food stamps from Kandiyohi County Family Services for the past 15 years.
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Janet worked at a county truck stop, which the Clarks reported to the county. However, it was found that in 2004, Jack made $18,410.49 from selling scrap metal, which the Clarks allegedly did not report, the complaint says.
The complaint says that the Clarks received $10,593.37 in payments that they shouldn't have received because of their extra income.
Janet Clark pleaded guilty to one count of gross misdemeanor wrongfully obtaining assistance - theft, which had been amended from a felony level charge. One other count of felony wrongfully obtaining assistance - theft, was dismissed.
She was sentenced to 365 days in jail, 320 of which will be stayed. She will serve her 45 days in three 15 day increments, the second two of which may be waived if she is compliant with probation.
She was given three years of probation.
She also has $25 in fines.
She will split restitution costs of $10,593.37 with Jack Clark.
Jack was sentenced to 365 days in jail, 305 of which will be stayed. He'll serve 30 days in jail, the second half of his sentence may be waived if he's compliant with probation.
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He was given three years of probation.
He will also pay $125 in fines along with the restitution he'll split with his wife.
Both also have to attend property crime impact panels as well as do victim offender mediation.
They were both sentenced by Judge David Mennis.
Jack Clark was also sentenced Wednesday for possessing several stolen items.
According to that complaint, police found a stolen truck, Bobcat, four-wheeler, and two guns at Clark's home.
Clark pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen property. One count of receiving stolen property was dismissed.
He was fined $125 and will have to pay $203.55 in restitution.
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He was also given 60 days of jail time and 305 days stayed. His sentence will run concurrently with his other sentence.
- A Willmar man was sentenced Wednesday to 82 days in jail, which he's already served, and five years of probation for causing an injury accident while he was drunk.
According to the criminal complaint, Jose Enrique Mercado Rivera, 34, was driving a 1989 Ford Festiva east on Trott Avenue on July 25 when he crossed the centerline and struck a 1992 Honda Accord.
A policeman had seen Rivera drive by at a fast speed just before the accident, the complaint says.
Three people in the Honda were injured and were taken to Rice Memorial Hospital, the complaint says. One of the passengers had to get several sutures in her head, the complaint says.
Rivera was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital as well, where a urine test showed he had an alcohol concentration of 0.24 percent, the complaint says.
He pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular injury resulting in substantial bodily harm. Two more counts of criminal vehicular injury resulting in substantial bodily harm and two counts of third-degree driving while intoxicated were dismissed.
Rivera received a 1 year, 1 day stayed prison sentence.
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He will also have to do two 60-day stints of home electronic alcohol monitoring during his probation.
He'll have to pay $137 in fines and $17,266.02 in restitution.
He'll also have to do a gambling assessment and attend a MADD impact panel.
He was sentenced by Judge Donald Spilseth.
Parking violations will result in tow
WILLMAR -- Willmar Police Chief Jim Kulset says that people should remember that parking on the street longer than 48 hours is illegal and cars will be towed and ticketed for doing so.
Vandalism
WILLMAR -- A portable CD player and several CDs were reported stolen from a vehicle Tuesday afternoon parked at Scandia Woods Apartments, 405 16th Ave. S.W.
