JUNEAU - A Green Lake County man accused of stealing more than $50,000 worth of implements from area dealers and farmers is scheduled to take his case to a Dodge County jury in April.
Gene A. Sauer, 40, faces three felony counts of theft. He could face up to 30 years in prison and $75,000 in fines if convicted on all three counts.
Police were tipped-off when a farmer scanning the countryside for a hay rake that was stolen from his farm spotted the implement on Sauer’s property in Cambria.
A criminal complaint says investigators recovered a John Deere Gator and lawn tractor stolen from Ballweg Implement, two Gehl skid loaders stolen from Waupun Implement, and the stolen hay rake on Sauer’s property.
The value of all five stolen items reportedly exceeds $50,000.
A complaint says Sauer cooperated with investigators, detailing how he had used a flat bed trailer to steal the items between spring and fall of 2008.
Police also recovered from Sauer’s farm a John Deere tractor that was stolen from Waushara County, according to the complaint.
Sauer remains free on a $500 cash bond. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges in December.