Former police officer sentenced for felony theft

A former Worthington police officer was sentenced earlier this week to a felony theft charge in Nobles County Fifth District Court.

Gary Lee Gerdes, 75, of Worthington, had been convicted of theft of property or services valued at between $1,001 and $5,000. Gerdes was seen not scanning various items on self-checkout machines at the Worthington Hy-Vee on 65 separate occasions between October 2024 and March 2025, according to a law enforcement report. A total of 369 items overall weren't scanned, with a combined value of approximately $2,200.

Gerdes' wife, Judy, also was reported as not scanning items at Hy-Vee. She has a settlement conference scheduled for Sept. 9.

During his Tuesday sentencing, Gary Gerdes was placed on supervisory probation for at least three years, with successful completion to result in a misdemeanor conviction. He was ordered to pay $1,031.45 in restitution as well as a $500 fine. He was also banned from entering any Hy-Vee stores during the term of his probation.

As he is a former Worthington Police Department officer, a Lyon County, Minnesota law enforcement agency conducted the investigation of Gary Gerdes.