Rochester Man Admits to Construction Site Thefts

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - One of the two men accused of a series of construction site thefts in the Rochester area has pleaded guilty.

26-year-old Matthew Tlougan entered guilty pleas to charges stemming from cases in both Olmsted and Wabasha Counties. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department earlier identified the Rochester man and 25-year-old Justin Quam of Byron as suspects in the theft of construction tools and equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars from multiple sites last September and October.

The pair were also accused of causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a home under construction in Oronoco. The home was nearly finished when the water was turned on and left running in an upper-level bathroom.

The criminal complaint says investigators were able to solve the cases when they focused on Tlougan and placed a tracking device on his truck.
When he announced the arrests of the two men, Olmsted County Sheriff’s Captain Scott Behrns describe it was one of the largest such cases he has ever dealt with.

Tlougan is scheduled to be sentenced next month for a conviction in Wabasha County, while another sentencing hearing is scheduled in October for his Olmsted County conviction. The cases against Quam are still pending.

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