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Unrelated felony theft complaints were filed Nov. 29 in Winona County District Court against Kristie Sue Nelson, 37, Quinton Louis Cole, 32, and Nakeya Shanee Banks, 22. None of them had verifiable addresses and each was charged with felony theft of property worth more than $500 but less than $2,500.
They face up to a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to the complaint against Nelson, on Dec. 29, 2006, she rented an eMachines computer worth $1,111.14 from 1st Choice — formerly known as Lebakkens Rent to Own. When she failed to make a payment in March, the store owner, Mike Lebakken, tried to track her down. Nelson’s landlord went into her apartment at 450 E. Wabasha St. and found abandoned property, including furniture rented from 1st Choice, but no computer.
Cole rented a computer package including a monitor, speakers, a mouse and other items worth $1,130.58, according to the complaint against him. A 1st Choice employee saw a moving van in front of Cole’s residence, but his girlfriend said they were just helping a neighbor move. Lebakken called Cole, who said he was helping move his girlfriend to Chicago. Cole also told the owner, “I give you my word as a man that I am not moving.”
An hour later, Lebakken stopped by Cole’s residence and found it cleared out. Cole and the computer equipment were gone.
Banks is accused of renting a washer, dryer, sofa, loveseat and rug in February and March 2006. When she failed to make a payment or return the merchandise in June, she was discovered to have moved without informing the store. It will cost 1st Choice $847.78 to replace the items Banks rented.
Lebakken said thefts of rented merchandise don’t really affect his business. He said the items are insured and he usually just writes them off unless the thieves are caught, prosecuted and ordered to pay restitution.
Lebakken said these types of thefts have only happened perhaps 10 times in the past couple of years.
Contact Kevin Behr at (507) 453-3524 or at kbehr@winonadailynews.com
WSUalum00 wrote on Dec 6, 2007 4:40 PM: