A Duluth man will avoid prison time if he successfully completes a treatment court program and adheres to three years of supervision after pleading guilty to a series of business burglaries last year.
Kyle Michael Carl, 26, had a 32-month prison term stayed in favor of probation at his sentencing Monday before Judge Dale Harris.
Carl pleaded guilty in January to six felony burglary charges in four separate cases. Four other counts were dismissed under an agreement with the St. Louis County Attorney's Office.
Authorities said Carl was responsible for burglaries at Woodland Car Wash, Carmody Irish Pub, Fitment Group, U.S. Bank, Duluth Cider and Midtowne Manor and potentially other locations between May and October 2019. He admitted to a number of the crimes, indicting he would trade stolen items for drugs.
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Duluth police earlier called it a "significant arrest" in response to a rash of break-ins in the Lincoln Park business district and elsewhere in the city.
Carl was released to a treatment facility after entering the pleas. Under the terms of his probation, he must graduate from the South St. Louis County Drug Court program, refrain from alcohol and drug use and remain law-abiding, among other conditions.
According to court documents:
The first incident occurred May 18, 2019, when Carl entered the Woodland Car Wash, 10 W. Austin St., and attempted to gain access to coin machines at the business. A screwdriver and ice pick were located at the scene, and Carl was found in possession of additional tools when he was arrested by police responding to a burglary-in-progress call at the nearby Zen House restaurant.
Carl was out on conditional release when police were dispatched to a burglary at Carmody Irish Pub, 308 E. Superior St., on June 18. Approximately $300-$400 in cash was missing from the business, which had been burglarized on several prior occasions, and police used surveillance video to identify Carl entering through a back door.
On July 15, law enforcement was called to the Fitment Group, 208 E. Superior St., where four laptops and two iPads were reported missing. Surveillance video showed Carl entering the business the night before, concealing his face with a red mask.
On July 22, police were called to U.S. Bank, 130 W. Superior St., where a number of personal items as well as keys for safety deposit boxes and cash bags were reported missing. Officers found pry marks "on many doors throughout the building" and video showed Carl entering with a keycard that belonged to a former employee.
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On July 23, Carl was arrested for a probation violation. In a search of his backpack, police said they found the keycard used to access U.S. Bank, along with clothing worn in the burglaries, spray paint, screwdrivers, a pry bar, pliers and wrenches, among other items.
Carl was again free when burglaries were reported at Duluth Cider, 2307 W. Superior St., on Sept. 9 and 12. Sunglasses, a box of industrial gloves, a pair of work boots and a Duluth Pack bag were missing, and surveillance video again helped identify Carl as the suspect.
After appearing on the new charges, Carl was placed under intensive pretrial release. But authorities said the burglaries quickly resumed, with staff at Midtowne Manor reporting several thefts to law enforcement in October.
Police said Carl entered a locked storage area at the apartment building Oct. 18 and twice Oct. 20, taking items including a propane torch, bolt cutter, 18-volt battery packs, an impact driver and a reciprocating saw — all valued at over $630. When police executed a search warrant, Carl admitted to using a screwdriver to open the door, acknowledging he traded the stolen items for drugs.
