Gulbertson has a troubled past

By Sarah Stultz | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Thursday, June 25, 2009

Though 37-year-old Chad Jamie Gulbertson has never been charged with something as serious as murder before Tuesday, Freeborn County Court records reveal he had a troubled past with a variety of criminal charges both inside and outside of the county.

While state laws related to the courts do not allow access of juvenile records, a few of Gulbertson’s adult files referenced charges beginning as early as his youth.

More recently, according to court documents, Gulbertson — who was charged Tuesday with second- and third-degree murder of former girlfriend Jody Lee Morrow — was meeting with a psychiatrist and had a mental health plan in place at Cedar House in Albert Lea.

He was ordered to have no alcohol or mood-altering chemicals most recently after a domestic disagreement with Morrow last October and had formerly been treated at Fountain Lake Treatment Center.

Chad Jamie Gulbertson

Authorities found Morrow dead in her trailer at 730 Larimore Circle on Sunday, after Gulbertson reportedly came into the police station with a family member and told an officer he thought he killed his former girlfriend.

A preliminary report from the medical examiner determined Morrow’s death was caused by multiple blunt force injuries to her head, according to the criminal complaint filed in court.

Court records indicate Gulbertson told an officer he had hit Morrow, wheelchair bound because of a diabetic condition, with a hammer.

He has already served time in prison in St. Cloud for separate prior offenses, as well as time in the Freeborn County jail each time after he was arrested throughout the years since at least the 1990s.

The following are descriptions of Gulbertson’s criminal offenses found by the Tribune (ordered by the date the crime was committed):

Dec. 13, 1990

On this date, Gulbertson reportedly broke into a machine shed at Porter Sanitation and stole some checks out of a vehicle.

He was convicted of third-degree burglary, which carries with it a severity level of four. In April of 1991, he was sentenced to 25 months in prison in St. Cloud. At that time, according to court records, when he would have been 19, Gulbertson had one custody point, one juvenile point and two felony points.

February 1991

Gulbertson was sentenced for a second crime the same time he was sentenced for the third-degree burglary of Porter Sanitation.

In this month, he reportedly was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, which is a felony. This charge was later amended to gross misdemeanor theft of property.

He was sentenced to 120 days in jail, which ran concurrent with the prison sentence.

Dec. 7, 1992

On this date, Gulbertson was charged with unlawful possession of a pistol because he violated a probation violation of his previous crimes.

According to court records, a deputy went to where Gulbertson was living at the time and talked to him about a recent crime. The deputy asked if he could look through Gulbertson’s things in his room. Gulbertson agreed.

“I looked around the room and noted that there were several knives lying about the room, and you could see where it apparently appeared where he had been sniffing glue and paint,” the deputy stated in court documents.

In holes in the ceiling, the deputy found a large ax and a .22-caliber rifle, series Squires Bingham Model 20, and a case with six bullets.

Gulbertson was sentenced to 19 months, with credit for 114 days already served in jail after his arrest for the crime.

April 1998:

Prior to this arrest, court records indicated Gulbertson had not lived in Freeborn County for a number of years, having been in prison in Minnesota and in the state of Nebraska.

According to court documents, on this date Gulbertson broke into a farm west of Albert Lea on Freeborn County Road 46.

Gulbertson was charged with fourth-degree burglary, but pled guilty to trespassing, which is a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to time served.

2000-2003

For these years, there were a series of thefts and shoplifting incidents on Gulbertson’s file, according to court records. There was also a charge for possession of a small amount of marijuana.

A Freeborn County Court Aministration official said these files have been destroyed.

March, July 2003

During these two months, Gulbertson reportedly broken into the former Bible Book Store on Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea, documents state.

The first time, in the beginning of March, he took an estimated $4,000 worth of items, including a DVD player, jewelry and cash.

In July, similar items were reported missing.

Authorities matched footprints in and around the store to Gulbertson’s.

He was initially charged with three counts of burglary, but ended up pleading guilty to one count, documents state. In November, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison in St. Cloud and got credit for his time already spent in jail after he was arrested on this matter.

March 2003

Gulbertson was charged with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal damage after he reportedly broke into washing and drying machines at Northbridge Apartments and took money out of the machines, reports state.

He ended up pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft.

March 2003

The same day he was taken to jail for this crime, Gulbertson reportedly jumped from a platform in the jail and broke a hole in the plaster ceiling.

He told authorities he did it “to get some attention,” according to reports.

He pleaded guilty to this crime and was sentenced to a period of days in the jail, again getting credit for time served.

March 2007

Gulbertson reportedly broke into Albert Lea Crate and took tools and other items, documents state. He was caught on surveillance tape at the business.

After a search warrant of his residence, authorities found loose change, DeWalt brand tools with the name of ALC or AL Crating on them, according to reports.

He was charged with one count of third-degree burglary and one count of possession of stolen property.

In a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property.

His probation continued until 2012.

During a progress report dated October 2008, Gulbertson’s probation officer expressed concern with him, indicating he had tested positive for marijuana in January 2008, according to records. He entered outpatient treatment at Fountain Lake Treatment Center in May and June 2008.

The probation officer said Gulbertson was lacking in his attendance at Cedar House.

October 2008

Though Gulbertson was initially charged with domestic assault of Morrow, that charge was amended to disorderly conduct, court records state. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, again with credit for time served.

Charges in other counties

Other charges of shoplifting and third-degree criminal damage for Gulbertson were found in Mower and Morrison counties, respectively.

A court file also referred to a third-degree burglary in Goodhue County in May of 1989. No information was able to be obtained on these court files.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---