Two men have been charged with misdemeanor Theft of Property following the investigation into parts removed and taken from a 1964 Ford pickup truck that was on private property.

     On October 3^rd, Sheriff’s Corporal George Edings took a report from a man who owns property at the end of Panoramic Place in rural Mountain Home.  The victim is the owner of the 1964 Ford pickup.  The victim reported that he has discovered that during the preceding week, he found that several items had been stolen off this truck.  The victim stated that the engine, transmission, doors, and several body parts had been stolen, as well as some corrugated sheet metal that was on his property. 

     On October 5^th, Sheriff’s Investigator Drayton McDaniel was informed that the victim had gone to S. & L. Recycling in Mountain Home and identified the transmission and motor from his truck, as well as one of the stolen doors.  Investigator McDaniel utilized the “Leads On Line” system to help develop a suspect who had been selling items such as these to S. & L. Recycling.  This business was contacted and cooperated with the investigation by providing copies of sales tickets where the suspect had sold items there and license information on the suspect and vehicles he had come in.  A second suspect was also identified through this process.

     On October 8^th, these suspects were brought to the Criminal Investigation Division offices for interview.  Both of them admitted to taking the items and scrapping them out. 

     JOHN S. PLEWKA, 40 years old of rural Mountain Home, and DANIEL SCHAEFER, 33 years old of rural Mountain Home, were both charged with Misdemeanor Theft of Property.  They were cited to appear in Baxter County District Court for November 17^th. 

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff