ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Shawn Daniel Jorgensen, a 43-year-old man from O’Neill, NE, was sentenced to five years of parole after pleading guilty to several vehicle burglaries that occurred in Orange City in 2021.
Jorgensen was arrested on December 2, 2022, following an investigation into a series of burglaries that took place March 15-17, 2021, in southwest Orange City. The burglaries involved vehicles parked along streets or on properties, resulting in charges including second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, and multiple counts of theft.
Jorgensen, who had been in jail since his arrest, appeared in court on March 3, 2023, where he pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary as a habitual offender and first-offense third-degree burglary of a vehicle. These charges stemmed from Jorgensen’s unauthorized entry into a garage and a vehicle, where he took property without permission.
The second-degree burglary charge carried a possible 15-year prison sentence with a mandatory three-year minimum, but the 15-year term was suspended as part of the plea agreement. Jorgensen was sentenced to 120 days in jail for the third-degree vehicle burglary, with credit for time served.
Additionally, Jorgensen was placed on five years of probation with the 3rd Judicial District Department of Correctional Services. He was also ordered to undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations and follow any recommended treatments.
Jorgensen was required to pay restitution to three victims for stolen property, including $450 for cash taken from a garage, $320 for a Bluetooth radio and radar detector, and $20 for a jar of change. He was also fined $855 for the vehicle burglary charge, plus court-related costs.
Judge Steven Andreasen accepted the plea agreement, stating that the sentence offered the best opportunity for rehabilitation while ensuring community safety.
