Woman's Journal Entries Lead To Felony Plea

APRIL 8--The Minnesota woman who confessed in her personal journal that she “Totally stole a car today!” pleaded guilty this afternoon to a felony charge, according to court records.

Appearing in District Court, Vanessa Guerra, 30, copped to receiving stolen property in connection with the theft last year of a 2004 Ford Freestar van.

A judge set Guerra’s sentencing for July 21 and ordered a presentence investigation to be prepared by probation officials. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

During an auto theft investigation, cops determined that the stolen van, worth $2000, had been sold for scrap by Guerra in Blue Earth county (where she resides in the city of Mankato).

“Witnesses at the auto salvage business...stated that Guerra had brought the van in and sold it to them,” according to a criminal complaint.

During the police probe, investigator Andrew Konechne “was able to locate a journal belonging to Guerra” which contained incriminating entries.

On the same day the Ford's owner discovered his vehicle missing, Guerra wrote, “Totally stole a car today! Something I never thought of doing. Fucking superfreaking out about it.”

Guerra “denied knowing that the vehicle was stolen” when she was first confronted by Konechne, a Brown County Sheriff’s Office investigator. Police obtained the journal from Guerra’s mother, with whom Guerra and her boyfriend had once resided.

Prior to her arrest, Guerra, seen above, had been working as a DoorDash driver. She had previously been convicted of theft, driving with a suspended license, and driving without insurance. Guerra was on probation in the theft case when collared for the auto theft. (2 pages)