Austin man sentenced to jail for burglary

(ABC 6 News) – An Austin man will serve jail time after pleading guilty to third-degree burglary.

Troy Arthur Leeper, 48, was charged with four felonies including burglary and theft in early August 2021, but only pled guilty to third-degree burglary.

According to Mower County court documents, deputies responded to a burglary at 11662 535th Ave. in Lyle Township in early August 2021. Deputies met with the property owners who were in the process of building a new home, and discovered the property had been burglarized and numerous tools stolen.

Two days before, a drug search warrant was executed at a property in the City of Austin, in which numerous tools and presumably stolen property was seen by law enforcement.

Photos of the tools were then shown to the owners of the Lyle Township property, and they recognized some of the items. In addition, the serial number of a chainsaw matched one that was stolen.

A search warrant was issued at Leeper’s residence and several items were identified as stolen from the Lyle Township property.

Leeper was questioned and asked about the stolen items from the Lyle Township property and said he didn’t remember what night he stole the property because he was always high on methamphetamine.

The owners of the Lyle Township property estimate the value of the items stolen at $6,437.87.

Leeper has been sentenced and will serve 33 months at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He’s been credited for 358 days of time served.