Plea change hearing set for man accused of bringing large knife into Cerro Gordo County Jail

MASON CITY — A plea change hearing has been set for a Mason City man who was accused of bringing a large knife into the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

33-year-old Justin Bielefeld was taken into custody on the afternoon of November 15th on fifth-degree theft and failure to appear charges. A criminal complaint filed in Cerro Gordo County District Court states that Bielefeld knowingly and unlawfully introduced a weapon into the jail by concealing a large knife covered by his underpants. Bielefeld was charged with possession of a weapon inside a correctional institution, a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Bielefeld was due in our for a pre-trial conference on Tuesday but he filed a written plea of guilty last week in Cerro Gordo County District Court. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a suspended prison sentence when he’s sentenced on January 23rd.