Wesley James Raasch, 42, Motley, was convicted Jan. 6 in Morrison County District Court of one misdemeanor count of theft and one felony count of knowingly violating registration requirements as a predatory offender.
Raasch was required to register as a predatory offender after a conviction for terroristic threats in Crow Wing County. The initial registration period was 10 years, but it was extended until 2029 after a conviction for failing to register in Morrison County.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 18, 2015, law enforcement went to Raasch’s registered address on a compliance check. The caretaker of the apartment building said that Raasch had previously been a tenant but had not lived there for several months.
The caretaker said he had no idea where Raasch moved to, and his former residence was rented out to someone else.
On Sept. 25, 2015, at approximately 3:10 a.m., law enforcement received a report of a gas drive-off at a business in Royalton.
An officer located a van matched the description of the suspect vehicle and met with the driver, identified as Raasch.
Raasch appeared to be very nervous and it was found that he had an active warrant out for his arrest and his driver’s license was revoked.
It was later reported by the St. Cloud Police Department that the vehicle Raasch was driving was reported stolen out of Stearns County.
For the felony, Raasch was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $135. For the misdemeanor, Raasch was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for 90 days served, and fined $171.01.
Raasch had one felony count of receiving stolen property and one misdemeanor count of driving after revocation dismissed as part of a plea bargain.