Bert Hertzog of Winsted was once again the center of attention, in a legal sense, as two more charges were leveled against him last week pertaining to his ownership of a Mercedes.

Hertzog was charged with two counts – one gross misdemeanor intent to escape taxation and a misdemeanor vehicle registration infraction related to a 2007 Mercedes SL600. “The paperwork didn’t add up right,” commented Liet. Dan Anselment of the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle was obtained by Hertzog via a Minnetonka dealer, who in turn bought it from Germany.

Hertzog’s first court appearance on these charges will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 29 at district court in Buffalo.

His last court date was Friday, pertaining to more serious, but unrelated, charges of Hertzog allegedly issuing fake inspection stickers to commercial vehicles even though he wasn’t licensed to do so.

Hertog’s attorney, Thomas Shiah of Minneapolis, argued that since Hertzog made his inspections remotely – that is, at different locations where he would drive to – the search warrants of Hertzog’s vehicle and house were in admissible because it wasn’t the actual scene of the offenses committed. The judge did not accept this and the search warrant stands.

The searches made last June were where authorities found unauthorized vehicle inspection stickers, as well as a letter that informed Hertzog that his inspector certification was suspended — something that Hertzog said he was unaware of.

An initial investigation done by the State Patrol showed Hertzog did commercial vehicle inspections in 2006 and 2007. Hertzog issued vehicle inspection reports to owners and inspection decals, according to a formal complaint. The decal numbers issued with inspections were recorded and tracked. The decals appeared to be fake, because the actual decals were issued to other people by legitimate certified inspectors, according to the complaint.

Hertzog is charged in Wright County with theft-by-swindle (a felony), aggravated forgery, (a felony) and inspecting vehicles without certification.
His next court appearance for the fraud related charges is set for Tuesday, Aug. 5.