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Martinez sentenced in Kaduce case

By Staff | Apr 20, 2009

Martinez

A 25-year-old Blue Earth man was turned over to immigration officials after serving 60 days in connection with two break-ins at a Winnebago business last September.

At a hearing in Faribault County District Court on Monday, Judge Douglas Richards sentenced Jose Alfredo Martinez to 90 days in jail and fined him $1,080.

Before the sentence was issued, County Attorney Brian Roverud read a letter written by the owners of Kaduce Plumbing.

The Kaduces wrote they hired Martinez with the best of intentions and helped him when they could with personal problems.

They said Martinez told them his job at Kaduce Plumbing was the longest he’s ever been employed.

“This theft was like he stuck a knife in our back and twisted it,” the Kaduces wrote.

Roverud says an insurance company has paid $46,769 to cover the value of the items stolen.

Martinez was given credit for 56 days served in the county jail. He was required to serve four more days before being turned over to federal immigration officials.

Last month, Martinez agreed to plead guilty to a felony count of receiving stolen property valued at more than $5,000.

He faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Martinez was originally charged with two counts of third-degree burglary and aiding an offender/accomplice after the fact.

The charges stemmed from break-ins at Kaduce Plumbing and Heating on Sept. 13 and 23. More than $40,000 in tools and equipment was taken.

In a court complaint, Martinez denied breaking into Kaduce and stealing the items. He admits to helping sell some of them at two Mankato pawn shops.

A second man has been charged in the case.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 31-year-old Derrick Anthony Elem of Mankato.

He has been charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property valued at more than $5,000 and aiding an offender-obstructing investigation of a third-degree burglary.

Authorities believe Elem has left the state.