Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Berry gets 5 years in prison; other teen charged in connection with shooting



Benjamin Berry, 16, of Lester Prairie, is going to prison
for a probation violation.

Berry was sentenced Tuesday to 60 months in prison at McLeod
County court. He was taken into custody and held at the McLeod County Jail
until deputies could transport him.

The violation was due to Berry’s unsuccessful completion
of in-patient chemical dependency treatment, said McLeod County Attorney
Amy Olson.

Berry was charged earlier this year with felon in possession
of a firearm, second degree assault, and receiving stolen property in connection
with the shooting of another Lester Prairie youth.

He was tried as an adult in that case because of the seriousness
of the offense and his previous record, Olson said.

Travis Henry LaFountaine, 19, of Plato, was found guilty
of providing Berry with a firearm in connection the shooting incident.

LaFountaine also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property.

LaFountaine stole the gun from the Lester Prairie Police
Department in February 2001, according to the criminal complaint.

The charge of providing a firearm to a minor was reduced
to a gross misdemeanor. The sentence of one year in jail was stayed and
LaFountaine was placed on probation.

For the stolen property charge, LaFountaine was placed
on probation for two years. The conditions of his probation are to serve
45 days in the McLeod County Jail, perform 45 days of sentence to serve,
and pay a fine of $440.

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