Becker County: Ponsford Man Sentenced for Copper Theft Burglary
BECKER COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — A Ponsford man has been sentenced for a burglary that left a home stripped of copper plumbing and wiring in Osage, Minnesota.
According to Becker County District Court records, Christopher Lee Peake, 37, of Ponsford, was convicted of felony second-degree burglary of a dwelling. On April 7, 2024, deputies responded to a report of a break-in at a residence off Becker County Highway 39. The new homeowners discovered that all the copper plumbing and electrical wiring had been removed from the house.
Deputies also found cigarette butts and empty pop cans that did not belong to either the prior or current owners. Two of the cigarette butts were sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for DNA analysis.
Investigators received results on September 12, 2024, linking the DNA to Peake. When questioned, Peake first denied being at the residence that year but later claimed he had been there in March to perform flooring work. He told investigators he sold copper at a scrap yard in Menahga, saying it came from his camper. Officers noted that copper plumbing is rarely found in campers.
Peake has prior convictions in Becker County, including trespassing and domestic assault by strangulation. On July 28, District Judge Michelle W. Lawson sentenced him to 28 months in prison, stayed for five years. He was also ordered to serve 111 days in the Becker County Jail, with credit for time served, and to pay $135 in court fees.
On October 1, Peake was ordered to pay $17,360 in restitution to the victim. As part of his five-year supervised probation, he must complete a comprehensive assessment, cognitive skills training, and follow all treatment recommendations. He is also required to abstain from alcohol and drugs and submit to random testing.
Burglary and property theft can lead to severe penalties under Minnesota Statute 609.582, which outlines sentencing for burglary offenses.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Christopher Lee Peake