Becker County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—Cole William Halverson, a 21-year-old resident of Lake Park, was sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony theft of a motor vehicle.
According to court records, on August 1, a Lake Park police officer received a report of a damaged vehicle at Gettel’s Repair in Lake Park. The vehicle owner reported parking his car at the repair shop on July 22 and, despite the completion of repairs, had not retrieved it. On August 1, he received a message from Halverson, stating he had taken the vehicle without permission, attributing his actions to alcohol consumption. The vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s windshield and door, and the front grill was missing. The owner confirmed that the damage was absent when he initially dropped off the vehicle. The officer observed no broken glass at the repair shop, suggesting the damage occurred elsewhere.
On October 16, District Judge Michael Fritz sentenced Halverson for felony theft, issuing a stay of imposition. This means that upon successful completion of probation, the conviction may be reduced to a misdemeanor. Halverson was fined $500, plus $160 in court fees, and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with credit for time served. Additionally, on December 24, he was ordered to pay $1,700 in restitution. Halverson is prohibited from consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs and must complete a comprehensive assessment within 60 days of sentencing, adhering to all recommendations. He was placed on supervised probation for five years.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me