Billy Lee Wright, 36, of Austin pleaded guilty to felony second-degree burglary-unoccupied dwelling as part of a plea agreement on Monday in Mower County District Court. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge on May 24.

A charge of felony theft-take/use/transfer movable property without consent will be dismissed at the sentencing.

According to court documents, Mower County deputies were dispatched to a burglary call at 9:13 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the 18000 block of Highway 105 in Austin Township. The victims told the deputies they left the residence at 5:30 p.m. and came home at 9:06 p.m. They said $12,600 was stolen from under a mattress in the bedroom. A deputy saw a deadbolt on the bedroom door appeared to have been pried open with a crowbar. The couple suspected Wright, who was divorced from a relative, might be responsible.

Court documents say a deputy contacted the relative, who said Wright had asked her if one of the victims still called bingo every Wednesday night for an Austin fraternal organization. She said she found the question “weird,” but he told her he planned to attend. When she learned he did not attend bingo, she confronted him about the burglary. She described his demeanor as “on edge and scared.”

A deputy spoke to Wright, who said he and his brother, Christopher Wright, had driven to Hayfield, Owatonna and Albert Lea the day of the burglary, according to court documents. He initially denied being in the area of the burglary, but when told there was possible video evidence, he said they “went out that way, but not to (the victims’) house.”

Court documents say a deputy received surveillance footage that showed a Dodge Neon, the same type of vehicle driven by Christopher Wright, pull up to the house between 6:32-6:38 p.m. on Nov. 1, from the victims’ neighbor on Nov. 17. One of the victims later said she suspected the brothers were responsible because Billy was familiar with the dogs, who would likely bite strangers.

On Feb. 20, Billy met with the detective at the Law Enforcement Center, according to court documents. He initially denied knowing who was involved, then allegedly admitted to the burglary, saying his brother “kept at” him and his role was to keep the victims’ dogs under control. He also said Christopher kept the money.

Wright will be sentenced on Sept. 21.

Christopher Wright was sentenced to 51 months in prison for felony second-degree burglary-unoccupied dwelling on May 24 stemming from the same case. He is serving that sentence concurrently with other charges.