Freshly on probation for burglary, man caught creeping on property

MASON CITY – A man who was just put on probation for burglary was caught creeping on another person’s property early Sunday morning.

Blake Dale Braun, age 20, was caught along with another man back on July 21, 2015, shortly after they allegedly burglarized a car in the 4700 block of 4th Street SW, near the Auto Edge car dealership. Braun was sitting in a parked car nearby with James Jay Eden, who has several drunk driving offenses. Items from the burglarized vehicle were found in their vehicle, after officers told the pair to walk from the scene. Braun was charged with third degree theft after police caught up with them.

On January 27, 2016, Braun pleaded guilty to that charge. He was sentenced to a year of probation and $1,852.00 in fines and court costs as part of a deferred judgement. Also in court that day, he pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while barred. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,479.19 in fines and court fees in those two cases. All three charges are aggravated misdemeanors.

Then, on February 28 at about 1:09 AM, Cerro Gordo deputies were called for a suspicious incident at 21954 Orchid Avenue, just north of the Mason City city limits. Braun was there with his girlfriend in a car, and the property owner had called police. Law enforcement responded and found the pair walking along the road as the property owner was on scene.

Braun was located by officers and arrested again for driving while barred and trespassing and taken to the county jail. His girlfriend was given a ride back to town by a deputy.