A Minnesota man was taken into custody earlier this (Tuesday) morning in Greene County on theft and drug related charges. According to Greene County District court records, a Greene County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2021 GMC pickup with dealer licenses plates for speeding on U.S. Highway 30 near Grand Junction. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Nicholas Curtis Walther of Albert Lea, Minn. informed law enforcement that he was taking the vehicle for a test drive and provided paperwork for the vehicle. The truck’s VIN number was run through a database, and it was reported stolen on Nov. 3 out of Freedom County, Minn. from a dealership. While Walther was detained on alleged theft of the vehicle, authorities discovered multiple marijuana items and a container of alcohol in the center console. Walther was taken into custody, facing charges of first-degree theft, a class C felony, possession of a controlled substance- marijuana, a serious misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor, along with scheduled violations of speeding, open container, and no valid driver’s license. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Greene County Courthouse. If convicted, Walther could face a maximum sentence of up to 11 years in prison and over $11,000 in fines.
