A 40-year-old Jeffers man is being charged with two felony charges in a recent theft.
Carlos Joel Rosario Torres of Jeffers has been charged with two counts of felony theft in Cottonwood County.
According to a complaint, the charges are related to the alleged theft of metal items and a vehicle from a farm owned by Oren Preheim between Oct. 10, 2024 and April 9.
According to the complaint filed in the State of Minnesota District Court, Torres is accused of taking over $10,000 worth of metal items from the farm without the owner’s consent. The items reportedly belonged to James Pankonin and were sold for scrap, with Torres retaining the proceeds.
The complaint said on April 9, Oren Preheim reported the missing items to the sheriff’s office, leading to an investigation that identified Torres as the suspect.
During the investigation, Pankonin informed authorities that some of his unique equipment, including a homemade tire shear, steel tables, a windmill, and a trailer, were stolen. These items were reportedly sold to Hilltop Auto Salvage by an individual from Jeffers, later identified as Torres.
The complaint said Windom police conducted further inquiries, which revealed that Torres frequently visited Hilltop Auto Salvage to sell various items, including the stolen Ford Ranger and other equipment.
When confronted, the complaint said Torres admitted to taking the items but claimed he had purchased them from another individual, who later denied any involvement.
The total value of the stolen items, as reported by Pankonin, exceeds $10,000. The list includes the Ford Ranger, a homemade tire shredder, steel tables and other equipment.
If convicted, both charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $20,000 fine.
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