Austin man sentenced to three concurrent prison sentences on burglary, DWI and drug possession charges in Mower County District Court

An Austin man who stole just over $6,400 worth of tools and construction equipment from a home that was under construction in the 11000 block of 535th Avenue in Lyle Township in August of 2021 has been sentenced to prison time in Mower County District Court.  

48-year old Troy Arthur Leeper of Austin was convicted and sentenced Thursday to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty on March 17th to a felony charge of 3rd degree burglary.  Felony charges for 2nd degree burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, theft, taking, using or transferring movable property without consent, and for receiving stolen property against Leeper in the case were dismissed with his guilty plea.

Leeper initially pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him on September 9th, 2021, and he was given credit for 358 days already served.  Leeper was also convicted and sentenced Thursday to 65 months in prison for a felony charge of 1st degree DWI, any amount of Schedule I or II drugs in the body stemming from a traffic stop on November 6th, 2020. Leeper pleaded guilty to the charge on March 17th after initially pleading not guilty on June 10th, 2021.  Leeper was given credit for 364 days already served, and a felony 5th degree drug possession charge, a gross misdemeanor charge for driving after revocation, inimical to public safety, and a petty misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia against Leeper in the case were all dismissed with his guilty plea.

Leeper was also convicted and sentenced Thursday to 60 months in prison for a felony charge of 3rd degree drugs, possession of 10 or more grams of a narcotic drug other than heroin after a search warrant executed at his residence in the 1400 block of 17th Avenue Southwest in Austin on August 5th, 2021 turned up a total of 11.35 grams of methamphetamine, several unused baggies and a digital scale.  In a plea agreement, Leeper pleaded guilty to the charge on March 17th after initially pleading not guilty on August 19th, 2021.  Leeper was given credit for 358 days already served, and a felony charge of 2nd degree drugs, intent to sell 10 or more grams of methamphetamine in the case was dismissed with his guilty plea.

Judge Jeffery Kritzer determined that Leeper will be able to serve all three sentences concurrently.