Someone broke into the home of a Mandan man who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, Mandan police say.

Mandan Police Deputy Chief Dennis Bullinger said Amanda Laib, 18, has been watching the home of her father, Marvin Laib, 46, during his incarceration.

Amanda Laib reported at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday that someone had broken into her father's mobile home on the 1400 block of Seventh Avenue Southeast, Bullinger said. She said it didn't look like anything had been stolen, but items had been tossed around in several rooms, Bullinger said.

Marvin Laib was convicted in 2001 of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of stolen property.

Since nothing appears to have been taken, it is possible that a past acquaintance of Marvin Laib was looking for something in the residence, said Mandan Police Chief Dennis Rohr.

"Based on his past history, maybe they could have been looking for something," Rohr said. "But that would be quite a bit of speculation."

Marvin Laib was convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in 2001 after police found methamphetamine in a fake beer can in his refrigerator.

Since he had two prior convictions for willfully manufacturing, delivering or possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance, the minimum penalty was 20 years in prison. His two prior convictions were for delivery of marijuana.

During the same search, police also found a couple thousand dollars of welding equipment that had been stolen in a burglary of Bismarck's North Dakota State Surplus, leading to a conviction for possession of stolen property. Marvin Laib was given a five-year sentence on that charge, to be served at the same time as the 20-year sentence.

Laib unsuccessfully appealed the sentences to the state Supreme Court in 2002.

Rohr said the burglary is still under investigation. Detectives may contact Laib to see if he knows why someone would be looking through his home, Rohr said.