Becker County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—Amanda Jo Knutson, 40, of rural Pelican Rapids, was sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony first-degree criminal damage to property and felony theft. The charges stem from a July 20, 2022, incident at U-Store Lock and Leave in Detroit Lakes.
According to court records, Detroit Lakes police received a report of property damage and theft at the storage facility. The complainant, who had been renting a storage unit with Knutson, his ex-girlfriend, reported that she obtained the gate access code from the storage facility owner and removed the overhead door to their unit, leaving a tarp in its place.
Subsequently, the man reported missing items from the unit, including a portable ice house valued at approximately $530, three lithium batteries worth about $350, bait coolers valued at $85 and $95, and an unspecified amount of clothing. He provided messages from Knutson indicating she had taken both her belongings and his, mentioning, “This fish house sure is nice. I’m gonna sell it today buddy.”
On October 17, 2024, District Judge Michael Fritz sentenced Knutson to 17 months in prison at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, granting credit for 207 days previously served in jail. She was also ordered to pay $2,322 in restitution, along with a $50 fine and $150 in court fees.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me