A 19-year-old Saint Paul man was reported passed out behind the wheel of a stolen Honda in a Minneapolis alley, wearing some of the vehicle owner’s clothing and with a handgun on his lap, according to charges.
Larry Dean Nerison III faces three charges: first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling, theft of a motor vehicle and carrying a pistol without a permit.
According to the complaint, the victim took out the trash at about 6:30 a.m. on September 26 at a home in Minneapolis. The victim left the rear door unlocked while returning inside. Minutes later, the victim noticed items by the rear door, saw the rear gate open and realized the garage door opener had been taken from its hook. The victim then discovered that a Honda belonging to a family member was missing from the garage.
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The complaint states that both the victim and the vehicle owner had been at the home when the garage door opener and the car were stolen. The victim said the detached garage service door was locked and the only way in was through the garage door itself, which was operated by the stolen opener.
About three hours later, officers responded to a report of a person passed out behind the steering wheel in an alley in Minneapolis. Officers found Nerison behind the wheel of the stolen vehicle, wearing some of the vehicle owner’s clothing. On Nerison’s lap was an operable black handgun. The complaint says Nerison did not have a valid permit for the handgun.
Officers reviewed video footage from the victim’s property and identified Nerison as the same person seen on the property earlier that morning. The complaint notes that Nerison was not known to the homeowners and had no consent to be on the property. The charges were filed Tuesday, September 29, in Hennepin County District Court.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s general theft statute is § 609.52. Penalties scale with the dollar value taken: more than $500 is a gross misdemeanor, more than $1,000 is a five-year felony and more than $5,000 is a 10-year felony. Theft of a firearm, or a theft of more than $35,000 by swindle or another listed method, carries up to 20 years. Burglary is charged separately under § 609.582.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Saint Paul Man Charged After Garage Break-In, Bike Theft • Hopkins Man Charged After Police Find Him with Stolen Truck • 1 Charged After Loaded Gun, Stolen Goods Found at Walmart
Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
