Peter Lee Thomson

     The Sheriff’s Office has arrested 28 year old PETER LEE THOMSON of Mountain Home on multiple charges related to the investigation of a residential burglary and theft that was reported on January 1^st.

     Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a complaint of a burglary at a home on Baxter CR 605 on January 1^st.  Entry had been made into the residence through a pet door on the back side of the house.  Items stolen during the burglary were a 32 inch Vizio TV still in the box, a Winchester .30-30 model 94 rifle, a box of blank checks on a personal bank account that had been closed, jewelry, clothing, and other electronics totaling approximately $1,750.00.  The victims reported that PETER LEE THOMSON was a potential suspect in the burglary.  THOMSON had been in the home and knew the location of the items that were stolen, and it was reported that he had a history of taking stolen items to Walmart in an attempt to get a refund on them.

     Sheriff’s Investigator Trey Edings contacted the loss prevention manager at the Mountain Home Walmart about the situation.  Walmart was able to determine that on the same day of the burglary, the Vizio TV in question had been returned to their store for a refund in the amount of $312.48 on a shopping card.  Video surveillance showed PETER LEE THOMSON and another man entering the store, and it was later determined that THOMSON asked the other man to handle the refund transaction because THOMSON had previously been barred from further returns at the store.  The shopping card was used approximately one hour later by PETER THOMSON to pay for other merchandise.  His identification was recorded during those transactions.

    On January 13^th, the Sheriff’s Office was contacted by an employee of Integrity First Bank who stated that a man matching the description of PETER THOMSON had attempted to cash a $500.00 check at the bank on the account of the victim in the burglary.  The bank verified with the victim that the check was a forgery, and the bank refused to cash the check. 

    Another check on the same account was found to have been forged and cashed at the Pizza Hut in Mountain Home for $33.04 on January 10^th. 

    A bench warrant for the arrest of PETER LEE THOMSON was obtained by the Sheriff’s Office.  He was arrested on the warrant on the afternoon of February 28^th and taken to the Detention Center where he was booked on the following charges:

Residential Burglary – Class B Felony
Theft of Property (firearm) – Class D Felony
Theft of Property (other) – Class D Felony
Forgery in the Second Degree (2 counts) – Class C Felonies
Theft of Property – Class A Misdemeanor
Criminal Attempt to commit Theft – Class B Misdemeanor

    PETER LEE THOMSON is being held in lieu of $30,000 bond, and he will appear in the Circuit Court on March 6^th to answer those charges.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff