Waterloo man pleads guilty to Floyd County charges; also charged in Worth County

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Waterloo man charged with multiple felonies including vehicle thefts in Floyd County has pleaded guilty to several of the charges in a deal that would dismiss the other charges and recommend a total prison term of up to 40 years, fully suspended, 60 days in jail, probation and full restitution.

Curtis Alan Anderson Jr., age 22, of Waterloo, filed written pleas of guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony; burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony; eluding, a Class D felony; and possession of methamphetamine, an aggravated misdemeanor.

A plea change hearing for Anderson has been set for June 21 in Floyd County District Court.

Anderson was also charged with six more felonies in Worth County earlier this month after being released under supervision in Floyd County, for events that allegedly took place March 1 or 2 near Grafton.

According to documents in Worth County District Court, Anderson and two other men allegedly committed burglaries at three different locations in Worth County. They were identified after items allegedly taken in the Worth County burglaries were found during searches by Floyd County deputies.

Anderson was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, each a Class C felony, ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, second-degree theft, a Class D felony, and third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor, for the alleged Worth County crimes..

As part of the agreement in Floyd County, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office would recommend sentences of up to 25 years in prison on the B felony, 10 years in prison on the C felony and five years on the D felony, all to be served consecutively, and all fully suspended.

It would recommend 60 days in jail on the methamphetamine charge.

In addition, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office would recommend that Anderson be placed at Beje Clark residential facility in Mason City or a similar facility “until maximum benefits are achieved,” and that he remain in jail until space in such a facility becomes available.

It would also recommend various fines, all suspended, but that Anderson pay restitution and court costs.

In return for the guilty pleas, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office agreed to recommend dismissing four counts of first-degree theft, two counts of third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, and possession of contraband. All of those are felony charges.

In addition, it would dismiss an aggravated misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and three traffic violations. It would recommend an interference with official acts simple misdemeanor be settle for time served, and that a speeding violation be settled for a $395.24 fine. All the dismissed charges would be with costs paid by Anderson.

Anderson would also be required to testify against a co-defendant, Riley Brekke, age 21, of Clear Lake, who was charged with two counts of first-degree theft for allegedly participating in stealing two vehicles. Brekke has pleaded not guilty and his trial is set to begin July 7 in Floyd County District Court.

A third person, Nicholas Gaige McLeland, age 29, of Clear Lake, faces eight felony charges in Floyd County District Court and three misdemeanor charges. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges and his trial has also been set for July 7.

According to court documents, at about 1 a.m. on March 3, Anderson and McLeland allegedly broke into a garage in the 2500 block of 155th Street and stole a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan and other items while there were two residents in the home. Other houses in the area were also broken into and property and cash was stolen, the reports allege.

Early in the morning on March 5, the documents allege, they went to another property in the same area and McLeland stole a 2014 Chrysler Limited and Anderson stole a 2018 Hyundai Accent.

Brekke was charged with driving Anderson and McLeland to the residences where the thefts allegedly occurred.