A New Town man has been sentenced to serve 15 days after pleading guilty to the theft of a vehicle in North Central District Court on Nov. 5.

Joseph Michael Gamper, 31, New Town, entered a change of plea to the Class B felony in a plea agreement with Ward County prosecutors.

According to court documents, Gamper was charged in connection with an incident on May 10 during which a vehicle belonging to a southwest Minot business was stolen from the emergency room parking lot of a Minot hospital. The driver of the white 2016 Honda Odyssey told investigators he had parked the vehicle and left it outside the ER entrance while he escorted a resident inside. After returning a few minutes later, the driver discovered the vehicle was gone.

According to court documents, the responding officer spoke with a woman outside the ER who was looking for a boyfriend she identified as Gamper.

She said Gamper was coming down from drug abuse and a mental health episode, and she had taken him to the ER for treatment. Gamper had gone outside to smoke while she waited inside but had not returned. Hospital security provided a description of the individual who took the vehicle, which matched the description she had provided for Gamper.

The van was eventually located south of Des Lacs, and officers were advised that several community members were detaining Gamper at that location after he attempted to steal another vehicle. The stolen van was retrieved by the business.

Judge Todd Cresap sentenced Gamper to five years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with all but 15 days suspended. Gamper was given 15 days of credit for time served, and ordered to complete two years of supervised probation. Gamper also was assessed $775 in court fines and fees.