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Brett John Dennis, charged with felony theft and possession of stolen property in relation to an alleged scrap metal heist, walked out of jail June 18 for work release and didn’t return.
He eluded authorities until Wednesday.
“Police came to the residence I was at, and I got arrested,” Dennis told Judge Jeff Thompson on Thursday morning in Winona County District Court.
Dennis, 21, was reported missing 28 hours after he left jail under the work release program. He told deputies he planned to apply for work at two area businesses, but the businesses said he never showed up.
He made his first appearance Thursday on a charge of felony escape from custody and faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
Assistant Winona County Attorney Nancy Bostrack said Dennis was a “serious flight risk” and asked for bail to be set at $20,000. She didn’t mention Dennis’ previous convictions for escaping custody in 2005 and 2006.
Thompson granted Bostrack’s request and made the bail amount consecutive to bail set at $20,000 for the felony theft charges. That means Dennis would have to post $40,000 bail or bond before he could be released from jail.
“My educated guess is you’re not eligible for work release anymore,” Thompson said to Dennis.
Dennis was accused earlier this month of breaking into Behrens Manufacturing at 471 W. Third St. on May 27 and stealing a pickup truck and about 600 pounds of scrap brass and bronze.
Video surveillance from nearby businesses showed Dennis and Justin Allan Forhan, 20, emptying the truck of stolen totes full of scrap metal at Dennis’ residence in the 200 block of East Third Street. The two later sold the scrap to a La Crosse, Wis., recycling plant for $1,659.60.
Surveillance video at a bank showed them cashing a check from the plant.
Both Dennis and Forhan were charged with motor vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. The felonies carry maximum penalties of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Forhan has since posted bond and is set to return to court July 23.
Dennis is scheduled to return to court July 17.
Contact Kevin Behr at (507) 453-3524 or at kbehr@winonadailynews.com.
