One pleads guilty in June car smashing
Published 9:30 am Monday, September 24, 2012
One of two men who stopped a driver in the street and smashed his car with a chain pleaded guilty Friday in Mower County Court.
Christopher J. Heimsness, 38, of Rochester, changed his plea to guilty for first-degree intentional property damage, a gross misdemeanor. The other allegedly involved, Preston Ray Bain, 21, of Waseca, pleaded not guilty several months ago.
According to the court complaint, the victim immediately drove his 98 Chevy Camaro to the Law Enforcement Center in Austin on June 27 after the two men blocked the road while one smashed the victim’s hood and windshield with a chain connected to a hook. The victim told officers both men were sitting on a trailer in the 1800 block of Fourth St. NE and drinking beer before they blocked his path and smashed his car. An officer went with the victim to find the suspects and arrested Bain and Heimsness. Bain gave a preliminary breath test of .178, and Heimsness registered .115.
Though the victim wasn’t hurt, his car sustained more than $4,000 worth of damage to the windshield and hood, according to the complaint.
Heimsness’ sentencing is Dec. 20.