Local News

Rugby individuals charged with multiple thefts

RUGBY - A Rugby man faces burglary and theft charges in connection with a number of rural property break-ins in the Rugby and Williston areas, according to Northeast District Court records.

Zachariah Mitcheal Grotberg, 44, is scheduled for an initial appearance in court on Aug. 18. A co-defendant, Kerri Jean Tessmann, also is scheduled for an initial appearance on Aug. 18.

According to the court affidavit, the Pierce County Law Enforcement Center received a report July 8 of a missing motorcycle from a rural property. Subsequent reports were received of the theft from various rural properties of catalytic converters, an air tank, a hunting trail camera and an antique anvil and weathervane.

Game camera photos and surveillance footage of the Grotberg and Tessman residence led to a search warrant for stolen property and vehicles. The affidavit reported the Aug. 5 search found multiple stolen items, including numerous power tools and the "chopped" stolen motorcycle that had been stripped and was in parts. The search found a receipt in the residence from a Minot metal recycling business that would take copper wire and other metal products, including catalytic converters.

Numerous tools, a compressor, battery chargers and batteries were linked to thefts reported earlier this year in the Williston area, where Grotberg previously lived.

Grotberg has previous convictions for theft and burglary and was on federal probation at the time of the new charges.

Court records show he currently faces two counts of burglary and three counts of theft of property in Northeast District Court, all Class C felonies. Tessmann is charged with two counts of theft of property, which are Class C felonies.