Barnesville Man Charged in Stolen Truck Case

Barnesville (trfnews.i234.me) — Michael Paul Johnson faces a felony charge involving a stolen Ford F-150.

A Clay County District Court complaint charges Johnson with receiving stolen property.

The case is filed as 14-CR-26-2995 in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.

Prosecutors allege Johnson possessed a stolen vehicle between December 2025 and April 2026.

Truck Reported Stolen in Fargo

The investigation began after a black 1998 Ford F-150 was reported stolen in Fargo.

The truck disappeared from a residential property on December 17, 2025.

The owner valued the vehicle at about $10,000, according to the complaint.

The owner later told investigators that Xander Michael Quarve and Rylee Allen Mehtala may have been involved.

He also reported that the truck could be at Johnson’s property near Barnesville.

An investigator visited the property on April 28, according to the complaint.

A truck matching the stolen vehicle was visible from a nearby road.

The vehicle was missing its doors, hood, and major engine parts.

The vehicle identification number matched the Ford reported stolen in Fargo.

Johnson later spoke with investigators by telephone, according to the court filing.

Johnson allegedly said he and Quarve brought the truck to the property months earlier.

He said Quarve claimed the truck was purchased through Facebook Marketplace.

Johnson allegedly said Quarve and Mehtala began removing tires and other parts.

He also claimed the truck was damaged and later shot with a gun.

Johnson reportedly told investigators that he no longer wanted the vehicle on his property.

An investigator arranged to have the vehicle removed from Johnson’s property.

The truck was gone when authorities returned the following day.

It was found in a ditch near Barnesville on April 29.

The location was about four miles from Johnson’s property, according to the complaint.

Investigators also reported finding vehicle-related items at Johnson’s property.

Those items allegedly matched property seen in another Ford truck during the investigation.

Authorities later obtained phone records for Quarve and Mehtala.

The complaint says their phones used towers covering the areas connected with the truck’s movement.

Johnson is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.53.

The complaint lists a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

It also lists a possible fine of up to $10,000.

The charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.

Johnson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Readers can search public case information through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.