2 of 3 sentenced for Alden break-ins
Published 9:45 am Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Two of the three young adults charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft related to a string of car break-ins in Alden in February were sentenced Monday on lesser charges as part of a plea agreement between their lawyers and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office.
The first young adult, Katharine Rose Aldrich, 19, was found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting third-degree burglary. The second, Jeremy Brian Rietsema, 22, was found guilty of two counts of third-degree burglary. Both were found guilty by means of a plea agreement.
Brittny Michelle Billings, the third young adult charged in the case, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her and will soon face a jury trial.
When first charged, each of the young adults faced seven counts of third-degree burglary, seven counts of aiding and abetting third-degree burglary, seven counts of misdemeanor theft, seven counts of misdemeanor aiding and abetting theft, and three counts of motor vehicle tampering.
Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab on Monday sentenced Aldrich to a stay of imposition with no additional jail time. She will be on probation for up to five years and was fined $1,000 plus court costs. She already spent 58 days in jail after her arrest.
Schwab said Aldrich will be required to fulfill 60 hours of community service, obey local, state and national laws, obtain a valid driver’s license, abide by general terms of probation, obtain permission to leave the state, and abstain from any alcohol or mood-altering chemicals, among other conditions. She was required to pay restitution to two people.
The judge said the crime of aiding and abetting third-degree burglary carries with it a severity level of four. Prior to her conviction, Aldrich had a criminal history of zero.
Schwab also sentenced Rietsema to a stay of imposition with no additional jail time. He will be on probation for up to five years and was fined $1,000 plus court costs. He already spent 89 days in jail after his arrest.
Schwab said Rietsema will be required to fulfill 80 hours of sentenced to serve time, complete a chemical use assessment and a mental health evaluation, complete a cognitive skills program, submit to random chemical testing, and not use or own a firearm, among other conditions.
Prior to this conviction, Rietsema had a criminal history of one. The third-degree burglary charge also carries a severity level of four.
According to court documents, Alden Police Chief Chris Harpham arrested the young adults after he followed three distinct sets of footprints from automobile to automobile on East Main Street, Powers Avenue, Euclid Avenue, North Broadway Avenue, Washington Avenue and Morin Road in Alden at the end of January. There were 17 vehicles that appeared to have been broken into, documents stated.
The prints ended at a residence on Broadway Avenue in Alden where Aldrich, Rietsema and Billings were found. There, authorities reportedly found shoes that matched the prints.