Mahnomen (trfnews.i234.me) — A Ponsford woman is facing a felony theft charge after a vehicle was reported stolen in Mahnomen.
Jane Elizabeth Kettle is charged in Mahnomen County District Court with theft of movable property.
The case is filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District under court file 44-CR-26-178.
The charge stems from a March 1, 2026, report at a home on Northwest 2nd Street in Mahnomen.
Vehicle Reported Missing
According to the complaint, law enforcement responded to a reported motor vehicle theft.
Dawn Basswood told authorities that her sister, Kettle, had taken her vehicle without permission.
Basswood said she, Kettle, and her nephew had gone to Detroit Lakes earlier that evening.
The group had traveled there to do laundry at a laundromat.
After returning to Mahnomen, Basswood went inside her home.
She told authorities she began putting her children to bed.
When she returned to the living room, the vehicle keys were missing.
The keys had been left on the couch, according to the complaint.
Basswood then looked outside and saw that her vehicle was gone.
Kettle was also no longer at the residence, court records say.
Tracking App Led Authorities To Vehicle
Basswood described the vehicle as a silver 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe.
The complaint lists the estimated value at $29,000.
Basswood told authorities Kettle did not have permission to take it.
She also said Kettle did not have permission to drive it.
Basswood used an app to track the vehicle’s location.
The app showed the Tahoe on Native Loop in Pine Point.
That information was sent to Becker County deputies.
Authorities later found the vehicle in a driveway on Native Loop.
Kettle was contacted at that location, according to court documents.
The complaint says Kettle claimed she had permission to use the vehicle.
She also allegedly admitted driving it from Mahnomen.
Authorities reported that Kettle admitted using psychedelics that day.
The complaint says Kettle was also charged with gross misdemeanor DWI in Becker County.
Felony Charge Filed
Kettle is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.52.
The felony theft charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
It also carries a possible $20,000 fine, or both.
A summons was issued in the Mahnomen County case.
The charge is only an accusation at this stage.
Kettle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More case information may be available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
