SLAYTON — A Slayton man accused of stealing large machinery from an abandoned property in rural Slayton waived his initial appearance Monday in Murray County District Court.
Randall C. Rogers, 41, faces six criminal charges related to the theft of farming equipment, which included an Allis Chalmers antique tractor and two sickle mowers. The charges, which were filed Aug. 7, come nearly six months after Rogers was released from his 45-day jail sentence imposed after being convicted in a 2018 case that involved a stolen pickup and Farmall tractor.In the newest case, an individual reported a John Deere cultivator stolen sometime between July 22 and July 31. The property owner contacted the Murray County Sheriff's Office again in early August to report more stolen property. Upon arrival at the property, the deputy observed a black tractor tire imprint on the roadway.
The tracks led the deputy near Rogers' residence, although the criminal complaint notes that there were no signs of tire marks leading to his driveway. The complaint notes that the driveway appeared to have been recently drug, which led the deputy to believe that was in an effort to eliminate drag marks from the driveway.
A Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force agent and Murray County deputies conducted a search warrant at Rogers' property. Deputies located and detained Rogers in a barn on the east side of the acreage.
Inside the house, the BRDTF agent observed drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine. The stolen equipment was reportedly recovered on Rogers' property.
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Rogers faces two counts of theft and two counts of receiving stolen property, all felonies; fifth-degree drug possession, a gross misdemeanor; and petty misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He faces a maximum five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both.
When convicted in the 2018 case, Rogers received a 13-month prison sentence, which was to be stayed for five years of supervised probation. With the new charges and violating the terms of his probation, that prison commitment could be executed.
Rogers is being held in the Lyon County Jail in Marshall on a $75,000 unconditional bail and $50,000 conditional bail.
