2 Glenville men charged in series of alleged thefts

Two Glenville men who allegedly stole farm machinery and sold it for scrap metal were charged Thursday in Mower County Court.

Titus John Weedman, 31, and Todd Duane Oakland, 46, both face felony charges for theft. Police arrested Weedman and Oakland on April 4 after a several-day investigation. According to the court complaints, a resident on 20th Avenue, northwest of Austin, spotted a truck driving by his home with a $400 manure spreader that he recognized from the property he oversees. He told authorities about the alleged theft.

Several days later, that man’s wife allegedly saw the same truck leaving the site with more machinery, according to the court complaint. The complaint states the woman followed the truck until it escaped her at high speed. Though she gave sheriff’s deputies directions while she followed the truck, deputies were unable to locate the truck, the complaint states. The homeowners mentioned they also noticed two other pieces of equipment missing worth a total of roughly $1,200.

According to the complaint, someone posted a trail camera after the first alleged theft, which caught the truck entering and leaving the abandoned property several days later with more machinery.

Freeborn County deputies then identified the truck as belonging to Weedman. After further investigation, authorities discovered the items at Wild Horse Trading Inc. in Kensett, Iowa.

The business owner said Weedman and Oakland frequently do business with him. According to the complaint, Weedman’s truck was caught on video at the business, and receipts from that business and others found in Oakland’s truck match the stolen items.

In the complaint, Oakland admits to being with Weedman, taking the items from the abandoned site and selling them at Wild Horse Trading.

If convicted, both men could face a maximum of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Their next court appearances are set for April 19.

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