OLIVIA -- Dena Joy Rodacker, 44, of Franklin, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of receiving stolen property for possessing an allegedly stolen saddle worth $4,000.
The plea was entered in Renville County District Court. Rodacker was released on her personal recognizance. Her next court hearing is April 9.
Rodacker was arrested Saturday after law enforcement from the Meeker, Wright, Carver and Renville county sheriff's offices served a search warrant on her rural residence and located thousands of dollars of horse equipment. One of the items discovered was a custom-made Dale Chavez saddle allegedly stolen from a rural Litchfield residence in December.
According to the complaint, the Meeker County citizens whose saddle and other tack was taken found a person, who went by the screen name "Dena," offering the saddle for sale on a horse forum Web site. An investigator made contact with the woman through the site and learned she was Rodacker. The investigator also learned Rodacker had moved to a rural Franklin address from Brownton with her boyfriend and that her boyfriend is in custody on charges of theft of horse tack and equipment.
A search warrant was granted and officers served it Saturday morning. Also discovered was a horse blanket with the last name of the victims printed on it. Rodacker claimed she didn't know the items were stolen and assumed her boyfriend purchased them at various sales.
