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PRESTON, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota mother and her 18-year-old son are accused of stealing nearly $5,000 in frozen gopher feet and selling them for a bounty.

 

   Thirty-seven-year-old Tina Marie Garrison and Junior Lee Dillon, both of Preston, were charged last month with receiving stolen property and theft. They allegedly gave the feet to local townships that offer rewards as they try to limit the gopher population.

 

   Garrison has pleaded not guilty. Her son has a hearing next month.

 

   The complaint says a gopher trapper reported to authorities that bags of feet were stolen from his freezer. According to the complaint, the owner found Dillon had turned in $1,014 in feet in November. In December, Garrison turned in $3,780 in feet.

 

   The Post-Bulletin reports Dillon denied turning in any feet for the bounty.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A St. Louis-area fire chief is facing federal indictment for allegedly stealing more than $140,000 in money from the impoverished fire district.

The indictment of Kinloch Fire Protection District chief Darran Kelley was announced Thursday. Federal prosecutors allege he stole money from taxes, grant funds intended for a new pumper truck and donations that were aimed at helping the district keep the truck.

He is also accused of falsely claiming disability.

The district went out of service in December.

Kelley appeared in federal court late Thursday and was ordered to spend the night in jail.

 

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - A St. Louis County man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing sports memorabilia and electronics from an assistant coach for the St. Louis Rams, along with other crimes.

KSDK-TV reports that 25-year-old James Bright of Fenton also pleaded guilty in two other criminal cases at a hearing Tuesday.

Bright and an accomplice were accused of breaking into the Kirkwood home of Rams tight ends coach Rob Boras on New Year's Eve. The theft included NCAA rings and a gold NFL championship ring, along with a TV, a game system and other electronics.

Bright also admitted to burglary and stealing at two other properties.

The second suspect, 27-year-old Jeffrey Medcalf, is expected in court next month to enter a plea.

 

 

A woman who allegedly stole items from several Sam's Clubs then sold them on eBay, faces federal charges.

Authorities say that Tammy Baggio stole from Sam's Club locations in several states, including stores in St. Louis in St. Charles, between February and August of 2012. Baggio would post the stolen items on eBay. If convicted, she could serve up to five years in prison and faces fines up to a quarter million dollars.