It may seem like things are pretty quiet at the Carroll County Courthouse, but those cases that can be handled while adhering to physical distancing recommendations are still being adjudicated. On Wednesday, April 8, a woman charged with possession of burglar tools, third-degree burglary, unauthorized use of a credit card and probation violation has been sentenced to a prison term not to exceed seven years. Thirty-seven-year-old McKensie Rae Bess, who has cited addresses in Lake City and Carroll, entered a guilty plea to a Class D felony, third-degree burglary charge in exchange for the dismissal of the aggravated misdemeanor of unauthorized use of a credit card. The charges stemmed from a Feb. 2 incident in which authorities say Bess broke in the front door of a home in the 700 block of 6th Street in Coon Rapids and stole a television, wallet, cell phone and other miscellaneous objects. She was accused of using the stolen card to make a $40 online purchase. However, Bess was on probation for another offense when she was charged with these crimes. On July 9, 2019, Bess and Joshua Adam Peterson of Carroll were arrested for having burglary tools in their vehicle that were discovered during a traffic stop. Bess plead guilty to that offense and received a two year sentence that was suspended and she was placed on two years of probation instead. On Wednesday, she was sentenced to a term not to exceed five years for the burglary charge and was also ordered to serve that original two year sentence. These are to run consecutively to one another. She was also ordered to pay victim restitution in the amount of $320 and a Law Enforcement Initiative surcharge of $125. All other fines and court costs have been suspended. Bess will receive credit for time served.
