Oakdale Man Found Guilty of Vehicle Theft

An Oakdale man was found guilty of motor vehicle theft during his court appearance last week.

Joseph Thomas Beran, 29, received his sentence in Washington County District Court. The court sentenced Beran to 17 months stayed for five years with a credit for 365 days. Restitution was also docketed for civil judgment. 

According to the complaint: 

Washington County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the 1000 block of Quixote Avenue in Lakeland on a report of motor vehicle theft on October 18, 2011.

Deputies spoke with the complainant who said he had received a call from the Hudson police regarding his 1998 black Ford pickup truck. Hudson police said his truck was involved with a gas drive-off on Oct. 17. The complainant said he went outside to check on his truck and saw that it was missing. 

The complainant told the deputies that he suspected Beran might be involved because his son had let Beran stay at his residence for the past few days. 

Deputies interviewed the complainant's son who said he received information from a friend who works at a Ford dealership in Roseville. Beran was trying to trade the vehicle for another vehicle at the dealership.

Police located the vehicle and later located Beran in Hayward, Wis. 

The value of the vehicle was approximately $6,000. 

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