Waterloo man sentenced for Floyd County thefts, other charges

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Waterloo man who pleaded guilty to several felonies including vehicle thefts in Floyd County has been given a suspended prison sentence of up to 30 years, placed on probation for five years and ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution.

Curtis Alan Anderson Jr., age 22, of Waterloo, had pleaded guilty to charges of 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, second offense, a Class D felony.

He was sentenced in Floyd County District Court on Monday.

Judge James Drew sentenced Anderson to up to 25 years in prison on the ongoing criminal conduct charge, up to 10 years on the burglary charge, up to five years on the eluding charge and up to five years on the methamphetamine charge, all fully suspended.

All the prison terms are to be served concurrently (at the same time), so the total would be up to 25 years, except that the eluding charge will served consecutively to the others, meaning that five years would be added to the up to 25 years, for up to 30 years total.

The length of the prison terms would come into effect if Anderson were to violate his probation and be ordered to serve the original sentence.

Anderson was also ordered to pay fines of $1,370, $1,025 and $855, plus 15% surcharge on each, and all suspended.

He was also ordered to pay $42,357 in victim restitution for the thefts and damage to vehicles, including damage to patrol vehicles or other property and injury to officers while he was being apprehended.

Anderson was also ordered to reside at a residential correctional facility such as Beje Clark in Mason City for 180 days “or until maximum benefits are achieved,” and to receive a substance abuse evaluation within seven days of the sentence and to complete all recommended treatment

As part of the plea agreement, the county was going 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.

Anderson would also be required to testify against a co-defendant, Riley Brekke, age 22, 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 Oct. 26 in Floyd County District Court.

A third person, Nicholas Gaige McLeland, age 30, 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 Oct. 26.

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.