Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Robert Fred Fish, 31, of Drayton, North Dakota, has been sentenced in a felony theft case involving stolen irrigation pipe.
Fish was sentenced for aiding and abetting felony theft over $5,000. The sentence was handled under Minnesota Statute 609.135.
Fish received a five-year stay of imposition. He was ordered to serve 13 months in prison, stayed for five years. That sentence will run at the same time as another case.
He was also placed on supervised probation for five years.
Sentence Includes Drug Court
As part of the sentence, Fish must complete a comprehensive assessment within 60 days. He must also follow all treatment and aftercare recommendations.
Fish was ordered to enroll in and complete Drug Court. He cannot use or possess firearms, dangerous weapons, or ammunition while on probation.
He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample. Court records show he must pay $210 in fees and fines.
Pipe Theft Reported Near Highway 32
The case began with a report to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 27.
A man reported that people were stealing aluminum irrigation pipes from property near 120th Street Southeast and Highway 32.
The man said grass on the property had been packed down. He also noticed a road area appeared to have been mowed.
Later, two vehicles were seen traveling down the driveway. The property owner then saw Richard William Paulson leaving in a Jeep.
Paulson reportedly said he had been fishing there for years. He also said he had a van left on the property.
After Paulson left, the owner noticed irrigation pipes were missing.
Scrap Sales Led Investigators To Suspects
Investigators later found pipe sections on a semi trailer. They also found a van with North Dakota plates and a homemade trailer.
About 25 pipe sections were on the trailer. About five more were on the ground.
The owner estimated that two-thirds or more of the pipes were missing.
Authorities later reviewed information from Evans Scrap and Steel. An employee said Paulson and another man had brought pipe to the business.
Facebook messages also showed Paulson discussing pipe sales, according to the complaint.
Security footage showed Fish arriving at the business on Aug. 25. He was driving a Chevy Tahoe with the same homemade trailer found on the property.
Across five transactions, stolen pipe was sold for more than $1,770. Investigators later valued the pipe between $10,900 and $16,350.
Paulson later told an investigator that he and Fish were both involved. He said they split the money.
Paulson has also been sentenced for his role in the case.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.