Former Small Town Mayor Pleads Guilty To Burglarizing Current Mayor

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. (AP) — The former mayor of Watson has pleaded guilty to breaking into the current mayor's home in March.

The Chippewa County District Court Administrator's Office says 34-year-old Joseph Rongstad will be sentenced Dec. 13 for burglarizing the home of Mayor Kyle Jones. The deal also will resolve a February incident in which Rongstad was accused of firing a rifle through the sunroof of his pickup.

Defense attorney Ralph Daby says Rongstad's actions were linked to illegal drug use but that he's now sober "and back to the guy who was elected mayor."

The plea deal is likely to result in probation rather than more jail time. Daby says Rongstad has already spent about half a year behind bars.

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