Prosecutors allege Burnett kept a pickup after receiving permission for a 24-hour test drive.<\/p>\n
The alleged offense happened on July 26, 2026, according to a criminal complaint.<\/p>\n
Burnett is accused of taking or driving a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.<\/p>\n
The felony charge carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.<\/p>\n
Pickup Taken for Test Drive<\/h2>\n
A stolen vehicle report was made to Ada police on August 8.<\/p>\n
The owners reported that Burnett had traveled from Fargo to test drive their pickup.<\/p>\n
The vehicle was described as a black 2005 GMC Sierra.<\/p>\n
Burnett allegedly left a Chevrolet Cruze behind when he took the pickup.<\/p>\n
The owners said Burnett agreed to return within 24 hours.<\/p>\n
He was expected to say whether he wanted to purchase the truck.<\/p>\n
The complaint says Burnett did not return the pickup as agreed.<\/p>\n
The owners also reported that he stopped answering their phone calls.<\/p>\n The pickup’s title was reportedly inside its glove box.<\/p>\n Investigators checked the license plates attached to the Chevrolet Cruze.<\/p>\n The complaint says those plates were not registered to the Cruze.<\/p>\n Instead, they were registered to a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse connected to Burnett.<\/p>\n Prosecutors allege Burnett drove the Cruze with plates issued for another vehicle.<\/p>\n That allegation resulted in a misdemeanor charge for unlawful use of plates.<\/p>\n Minnesota Statute 168.36<\/a> prohibits using plates on a vehicle other than the one assigned.<\/p>\n The complaint also describes how Burnett allegedly obtained the Chevrolet Cruze.<\/p>\n Investigators contacted the person who previously had the vehicle.<\/p>\n That person said a vehicle trade had been planned with Burnett.<\/p>\n According to the complaint, Burnett later stopped returning calls.<\/p>\n The person also alleged Burnett never provided compensation for the Cruze.<\/p>\n No separate charge involving that vehicle is listed in this complaint.<\/p>\n The vehicle theft charge cites Minnesota Statute 609.52<\/a>.<\/p>\n The law prohibits taking or driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent.<\/p>\n Prosecutors allege Burnett knew or should have known the permission had ended.<\/p>\n The plate charge carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.<\/p>\n The case is filed as State of Minnesota v. Jimmy Joe Burnett.<\/p>\n The court file number is 54-CR-26-245 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.<\/p>\n Public court information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n The complaint contains allegations and does not establish Burnett’s guilt.<\/p>\n Burnett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n![\"Jimmy](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/BURNETT-JIMMY-JOE.jpg\")
License Plates Raise Questions<\/h2>\n
Another Vehicle Transaction Cited<\/h2>\n
Felony Case Filed<\/h2>\n