Ada Pickup Case Leads to Felony Theft Charge

Ada (trfnews.i234.me) — Jimmy Joe Burnett faces felony vehicle theft and misdemeanor license plate charges in Norman County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Burnett kept a pickup after receiving permission for a 24-hour test drive.

The alleged offense happened on July 26, 2026, according to a criminal complaint.

Burnett is accused of taking or driving a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.

The felony charge carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Pickup Taken for Test Drive

A stolen vehicle report was made to Ada police on August 8.

The owners reported that Burnett had traveled from Fargo to test drive their pickup.

The vehicle was described as a black 2005 GMC Sierra.

Burnett allegedly left a Chevrolet Cruze behind when he took the pickup.

The owners said Burnett agreed to return within 24 hours.

He was expected to say whether he wanted to purchase the truck.

The complaint says Burnett did not return the pickup as agreed.

The owners also reported that he stopped answering their phone calls.

The pickup’s title was reportedly inside its glove box.

Investigators checked the license plates attached to the Chevrolet Cruze.

The complaint says those plates were not registered to the Cruze.

Instead, they were registered to a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse connected to Burnett.

Prosecutors allege Burnett drove the Cruze with plates issued for another vehicle.

That allegation resulted in a misdemeanor charge for unlawful use of plates.

Minnesota Statute 168.36 prohibits using plates on a vehicle other than the one assigned.

The complaint also describes how Burnett allegedly obtained the Chevrolet Cruze.

Investigators contacted the person who previously had the vehicle.

That person said a vehicle trade had been planned with Burnett.

According to the complaint, Burnett later stopped returning calls.

The person also alleged Burnett never provided compensation for the Cruze.

No separate charge involving that vehicle is listed in this complaint.

The vehicle theft charge cites Minnesota Statute 609.52.

The law prohibits taking or driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Prosecutors allege Burnett knew or should have known the permission had ended.

The plate charge carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The case is filed as State of Minnesota v. Jimmy Joe Burnett.

The court file number is 54-CR-26-245 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

Public court information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The complaint contains allegations and does not establish Burnett’s guilt.

Burnett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.