Cass County, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – A Fargo man is facing a felony theft charge after police say he was caught driving a stolen vehicle linked to a case in Minnesota. According to new court documents, Jacob Paul Utyro of Fargo has been charged with felony theft of property following a November traffic stop.
The incident occurred on November 13, when Fargo Police pulled over a vehicle near the 700 block of 25th Street South. Officers stopped the vehicle for having no registration displayed. When officers asked for details, Utyro said he bought the vehicle from a third party in Minneapolis. He told officers he did not have any documentation for the purchase.
Police ran the vehicle information through their system. According to the report, the vehicle came back as stolen out of Duluth, Minnesota. The stolen vehicle report had been filed earlier by authorities in Duluth. For more information on stolen vehicle reports in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota BCA website at dps.mn.gov.
After confirming the status of the vehicle, officers detained Utyro and took him into custody. He was later booked into the Cass County Jail. The formal charge filed against him is felony theft of property. Under North Dakota law, theft involving a stolen vehicle is punishable with felony-level penalties. State laws regarding felony theft can be viewed at legis.nd.gov.
The criminal complaint states that Utyro did not provide a bill of sale or any proof of ownership. Officers say the lack of documentation and the confirmed Duluth theft report supported the decision to arrest him. The case will continue in Cass County District Court. Hearing dates will be posted in public court schedules when available.
Officials remind the public that charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
