Rochester man receives probation in property damage case
Matthew Tlougan / Olmsted County Adult Detention Center
(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man found hiding in a home he broke into received 5 years’ probation in Olmsted County Court Thursday.
Matthew Tlougan, 29, pleaded guilty to damaging a 7th Avenue SE rental home, requiring more than $20,000 in estimated repairs.
A count of 2nd degree burglary for enterting the home was dismissed.
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Tlougan was arrested in December 2021, after property owners found signs that someone was repeatedly entering their building under renovation.
Police found Tlougan hiding in the basement of the house, as well as burning copper wires and signs that Tlougan had ripped out all of the wiring to the house and removed copper from the fireplace.
Tlougan’s sentence was less severe than usual for severe property damage.
According to court documents, he received probation because the state considers him “particularly amenable” to probation and treatment for chemical dependency.
He also received 50 hours of community service, to be completed in two years.