Fosston man sentenced to eight years for armed robbery

BEMIDJI -- A Fosston man was sentenced in Beltrami County Court on Monday for felony aggravated robbery and burglary charges from an incident in March.

Riley William Burns, 18, was sentenced to more than four years (58 months) in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud for first-degree burglary. Burns has been credited with 134 days time served and must pay a $50 fine. He was sentenced consecutively to four years in prison for first-degree aggravated robbery.

Burns was arrested along with Michael Todd Fineday Jr., 19, of Bemidji after the pair forced their way into a Bemidji home on Roosevelt Road SE in an attempt to procure money and marijuana, according to court documents.

A male victim was assaulted during the altercation and a handgun was pointed at the victims before Fineday and Burns left the residence with an Xbox, video games, electronics, a cellphone and a pair of shoes in a pillow case. According to court documents, Burns handed the gun to Fineday during the robbery.

Burns entered a guilty plea in June. Fineday was sentenced in July to two concurrent 93 month prison sentences for the felony-level offenses. He was credited with 121 days time served and ordered to pay $100 in fines.

First-degree burglary and first-degree aggravated robbery each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.