Storm Lake, Iowa — A Rock Rapids man who faced felony burglary charges in several nearby counties has been sentenced to prison in connection with a business burglary in Storm Lake.
Storm Lake Police tell us that almost a year ago, on January 28th, 2022, their officers discovered around $2800 worth of merchandise was missing from the Storm Lake Ace Hardware store. Similar burglaries and thefts had reportedly occurred around the area.
Storm Lake Police eventually obtained a search warrant for a Rock Rapids home, which was executed on June 15th. Approximately $14,000 worth of various tools were located that were allegedly stolen from theft incidents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Storm Lake Police tell us that 45-year-old Adam Nelson was taken into custody by Lyon County Deputies.
In the Storm Lake Case, Nelson was charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony; second-degree theft, a class D felony; and third-degree burglary, a class D felony. In a plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to drop the ongoing criminal conduct charge. If Nelson had been convicted of a class B felony, he could have had to serve 25 years in prison. As it stands, he was sentenced to two five-year terms, to run consecutively, or in-a-row; one for each remaining charge. Nelson had faced similar charges in both Sioux and Woodbury counties.
