Becker County (trfnews.i234.me) — A rural Frazee man has been sentenced for felony theft.
The case involves two visits to the Menards store in Detroit Lakes.
What court records say
Court records say Nathaniel Martin Kieffer, 47, entered the store on Oct. 6, 2023.
He placed a security system and a cordless nailer in a cart.
Video later showed him in the garden center, records say.
He set the items near bags of gravel.
He then paid for gravel only.
He left without paying for the security system or nailer.
The loss from that visit totaled $829.98.
Records say Kieffer returned to the same store on Oct. 29, 2023.
He placed several items into his cart.
Surveillance video again showed him in the garden center.
He placed the unpaid items near gravel bags, records say.
He bought the gravel and left with the other items.
The second loss totaled $1,404.07.
Together, the two thefts totaled $2,234.05.
What was returned
A Menards store manager called Kieffer on Oct. 31, 2023, records say.
Kieffer admitted to both thefts during that call.
He agreed to return what he had taken.
Court records say he returned many of the items.
Store staff put those items back on the shelves.
The nailer was used and could not be resold, records say.
The security system was not returned.
Sentence and probation
On Dec. 4, Becker County District Judge Gretchen Thilmony stayed the imposition of sentence.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch says a stay of imposition can reduce the conviction later.
That reduction depends on successful probation completion.
The court ordered 15 days in jail.
Kieffer received credit for one day served.
He may instead complete 45 days on electronic home monitoring.
The court ordered him to pay the monitoring cost.
The court also ordered him to avoid alcohol.
He must not use nonprescribed drugs.
He must complete cognitive skills training.
He must follow cognitive behavioral programming as directed.
Kieffer was fined $1,000.
He must also pay $970 in restitution.
He must pay $75 in court fees.
The court placed him on supervised probation for five years.
Related resources
- Becker County District Court
- Minnesota Judicial Branch: Criminal Definitions
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
- Menards Detroit Lakes Store Details
- Menards Store Locator
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Not much of a sentence.