An Arthur woman accused of a felony weapons charge and stealing a gift card has entered a not guilty plea in District Court for Carroll County. Thirty-eight-year-old Collett Ann Ziegmann filed her plea last Thursday to one count of control of a firearm by a felon, a class D felony, and one count of fourth-degree theft, a serious misdemeanor. In late March, Ziegmann allegedly stole a Bomgaar’s gift card, valued at $215, from an acquaintance. The weapons charge originates from an investigation into a March 28 fire that destroyed the Coon Rapids Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) building. Authorities located two firearms at her residence in that structure while trying to determine the cause of the blaze. A jury trial is slated to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Carroll County Courthouse, and Ziegmann, if found guilty, faces a maximum of $7,500 in fines and up to five years in prison, which could be extended due to her status as a habitual offender. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23 to determine if the case will be resolved by plea agreement, be dismissed or proceed to trial.
