Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Louisiana man has been sentenced for felony theft after a lawn mower theft near Thief River Falls.
Samuel James Jones Jr., 47, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced in Pennington County District Court.
Court records say he was sentenced on a felony theft conviction.
A felony charge of possessing stolen property over $5,000 was dismissed.
Samuel James Jones Jr. mugshotSentence details
Jones was ordered to serve 15 months in prison, stayed for three years.
He was placed on supervised probation for three years.
He must complete a full assessment within 60 days of sentencing.
He must follow any treatment and aftercare that is recommended.
He cannot use or possess firearms, ammunition, or explosives while on probation.
He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample.
He must pay $185 in fees and fines.
He must pay $1,500 in restitution.
Stolen mower found in a field
The case started with a report on July 7, 2024, court records say.
A landowner reported a lawnmower stuck near the edge of a field.
The location was along 205th Avenue Northeast, southeast of Thief River Falls.
The mower was a Country Clipper Boss XL 9010 and did not belong to him.
Deputies later checked a nearby equipment business, court records say.
A padlock on a chain securing display mowers had been cut.
The owner reported that a mower valued at $16,049 was stolen.
The mower was muddy, and the ignition appeared tampered with.
A pin for the roll bar was also missing, court records say.
Surveillance trail and vehicle description
Investigators reviewed video from nearby businesses, court records say.
Footage showed a pickup towing a trailer near the time of the theft.
Another video showed a blue GMC Sierra hauling a zero-turn mower.
The truck was believed to be a 2007 to 2013 model.
Court records say it had black fender flares and a decorative front plate.
The rear bumper appeared damaged on both sides.
Investigators worked to identify the plate number, court records say.
The plate was tied to Louisiana.
The case also involved work with a regional crime information center.
Stop in another town
Court records say another agency later stopped a similar truck and trailer.
The trailer contained a John Deere zero-turn mower.
Jones was the driver, court records say.
He said he was a subcontractor doing weed control at a tower site.
Authorities said he lacked company paperwork at the stop.
More video near the casino and tower site
Investigators also reviewed surveillance near where the mower was found.
Video showed a truck and trailer stopping near the area on July 7, 2024.
More video from a nearby tower site showed a similar truck and trailer.
Court records say the vehicle hauled a zero-turn mower on July 6, 2024.
Resources
- Minnesota law on theft (609.52)
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
- Pennington County District Court
- MOCIC overview
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.