Trial dates set for adult in crime spree, arson case [West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.]

Dec. 31--WILLMAR -- Jury trial dates have been set for Feb. 7 to 9 for Chase John Hodapp, 20, of Willmar, the second young man charged for his role in a two-week crime spree that included stealing, burning and crashing vehicles and setting fire to an occupied Willmar residence.

In an order issued Wednesday, Judge Michael J. Thompson also set a trial management conference for Feb. 6 in Kandiyohi County District Court.

A forensic psychological report, by Dr. Edmund Nadolny, was filed in Hodapp's case Tuesday. The report, which is confidential information, was ordered in July after Hodapp pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or disorder.

Hodapp faces a total of 17 charges, including 13 felony counts of arson, burglary, property damage, motor vehicle theft and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor theft and property damage charges for the April 19 to May 3 crime spree.

Andrew Charles Wyman, now 18, was also charged in the case. His extended juvenile jurisdiction sentence included 167 days at the Prairie Lake Detention Center secure unit, 280 hours of community work service and probation until his 21st birthday.

The juvenile sentence included a stayed adult sentence, imposed only if Wyman doesn't comply with the juvenile sentence, of 75 months in prison on the most significant count -- first-degree arson.

Wyman was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution in the case, including $22,822.19 to the owners of the burned, and subsequently razed home, the owners of several vehicles that were stolen and damaged, a Spicer car wash where a coin machine was damaged and the Willmar Municipal Utilities, for a light pole that was struck by a pickup that the boys had rigged to run, without a driver, down 19th Avenue Southwest.

The payment of the $22,822.19 was ordered by Judge Kathryn N. Smith to be part of Wyman's probation. If he does not pay the money, the failure could be considered a probation violation and result in the execution of his prison sentence.

The remaining $76,777.81, to the insurance companies holding policies on the house and vehicles, was ordered to be converted to a civil judgment against Wyman. The last $400 is restitution was ordered in a juvenile file that is not public record.

The series of incidents from April 24 to May 3 included the theft and burning of several pickups and rigging a pickup to run without a driver along 19th Avenue Southwest in Willmar and culminated with the pair setting fire to an occupied Willmar residence. Hodapp is currently in the Kandiyohi County Jail.

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