Sheldon, Iowa — A man from Marcus and one from Washington state have been arrested on burglary and drug charges in Sheldon.
Based on a criminal complaint from the Sheldon Police Department filed with the O’Brien County Clerk of Court, 45-year-old Joseph Pedersen of Marcus and 25-year-old Kyle Wagner of Longview, Washington, are facing charges in the case. They were arrested on Tuesday.
In his statement, the officer says Sheldon officers were called to the report of a burglary on 9th Street on Sunday. When they got there, the officer was informed that someone had broken into the residence through a basement window. He says he was told that items stolen included fine jewelry and two firearms.
During their investigation, officers allegedly found multiple footprints in the backyard leading to the window, then leaving the house westward toward the cemetery. They tell us they were able to obtain video images from a nearby structure showing a vehicle leaving the cemetery at the time of the burglary.
The vehicle was found at Arnold Motor in Sheldon on Tuesday. The Sheldon police made contact with the two occupants. One occupant had paraphernalia in a black bag. The other occupant had an outstanding warrant out of Texas, and police say some of the jewelry from the burglary was located in the vehicle.
Sheldon officers were also able to obtain video from Arnold Motor allegedly showing Wagner throwing objects as police arrived. Officers say they were able to find the items thrown, which included more paraphernalia and a bottle with a white crystalline substance in it. A field test kit showed the substance was positive for methamphetamine.
Pedersen was charged with third-degree burglary, a class D felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
Wagner was charged with the same burglary charge, but he also faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and second-degree theft, a class D felony. Class C felonies are punishable by up to ten years in prison, according to Iowa code. He also faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing prosecution or defense and possession of methamphetamine.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 6th for both defendants.
At last report, they remained in the O’BrienCounty Jail in Primghar in lieu of bond.
KIWA Staff Photo
