Former Goatropers Bar Owner Sentenced for Tax Crimes

ST. CLOUD - The former owner of Goatroper's Bar in Farming Township will avoid prison time after he was sentenced for felony tax crimes today.

Forty-two-year-old Anthony Thelen had pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of tax-related crimes.

Today, Stearns County Judge Thomas Knapp sentenced Thelen to 27 months in prison, but he will only have to serve 145 days in the Stearns County Jail if he abides by the conditions of the sentence.  Those conditions include an additional 480 of community service and repay the state of Minnesota the thousands of dollars he owes.

Thelen admitted he under-reported food and alcohol sales from 2005 to 2008.  He pleaded guilty to five counts of filing fraudulent sales tax returns and four counts of failing to file personal income tax returns.

Thelen's liquor license was immediately revoked as part of Stearns County's provision that he lose his license, if he was convicted of a felony or a gross misdemeanor.

Last month the Stearns County Board of Commissioners approved a full on/off sale liquor license for Stephanie Jacobs who plans to change the bar's name to Trappers Grub and Pub.