StutsheriffJamestown (CSi) A Minot man  who allegedly sold stolen heavy equipment belonging to two Stutsman County residents earlier this year, is be sought by the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office.

37 year old Benjamen Wayne Smith, was charged September 21, 2015, in Southeast District Court in Jamestown with three counts of theft of property.

The first count, a Class A felony, alleges that Smith transferred a stolen Caterpillar skid steer loader to a Pingree resident on April 14th.

The second count, a Class C felony, is for the flatbed trailer the skid steer loader was on. The skid steer loader and trailer were stolen from a Harbor, Washington, company.

The third count, a Class B felony, alleges Smith sold a second skid steer loader to a Buchanan resident on May 15th. The second skid steer was stolen from a Bismarck-based landscaping business.

Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office detective, Major Jason Falk says,

Smith did not appear in court for these charges because he has not been apprehended.

The investigation is in cooperation with the Bismarck Police Department

Falk’s report lists two other suspects, a man from Watford City and a man from Bismarck, who were involved in transporting the allegedly stolen equipment. No charges had been filed against those men as of Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information about Benjamen Smith is asked to call the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office at 251-6200.

The maximum penalty for a Class A felony is 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The maximum penalty for a Class B felony is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The maximum penalty for a Class C felony is five years in prison and $10,000 fine.