Couple Charged With Felony Theft After Allegedly Attempting to Sell $60,000 Lost Bracelet in Wayzata
Published: October 16th 2026.
WAYZATA MN - Two people have been charged with felony theft in Hennepin County after allegedly retaining a lost bracelet valued at approximately $60,000, despite efforts by police to recover the jewelry and return it to its rightful owner.
According to separate criminal complaints, Kara Joan Ledel, 38, and Joshua Blaise Beste, 37, each face one felony count of theft involving indifference to the owner's rights. The charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
According to court documents, the investigation began on August 3, 2026, when a woman reported to Wayzata police that she had lost her bracelet sometime between May 21 and May 23. The woman believed the bracelet had fallen off her wrist while she was in Wayzata.
The woman told investigators that Gunderson's Jewelers, where she originally purchased the bracelet, had contacted her after another woman allegedly attempted to sell the jewelry back to the store.
According to the complaints, Ledel visited the jewelry store on August 3 and asked whether the business purchased jewelry. A store manager recognized the bracelet's distinctive features and recalled selling it to the original owner.
When questioned about how she obtained the bracelet, Ledel allegedly claimed that an ex-boyfriend had given it to her. She subsequently declined a request to leave the bracelet at the store for an appraisal.
Police later contacted Ledel, who reportedly claimed she had previously reported finding the bracelet. Investigators subsequently located a May 20 police report filed under Beste's name regarding a found bracelet.
According to the complaints, Beste refused officers' requests to surrender the jewelry, questioning the ownership claim and requesting additional documentation. Even after speaking with the jewelry store manager, who confirmed selling the bracelet to the woman, Beste allegedly maintained that he would retain possession of it.
On August 4, Wayzata police executed a search warrant at a residence in Wayzata to recover the bracelet.
Ledel, who was present at the residence, reportedly agreed to provide the jewelry to investigators. Officers subsequently confirmed that it was the bracelet purchased and lost by the original owner.
Both Ledel and Beste were charged in connection with the incident under Minnesota Statute 609.52.
The allegations outlined in the criminal complaints have not been proven in court. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.