A Perry man and a Newton man and woman were arrested early Tuesday after allegedly stealing a catalytic converter from a tow truck in Jefferson.
Jason Edward Trotter, 47, of 322 305th St., Perry, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and trespass-injury or damage greater than $300.
Sharlee Jean Royce, 30, of 626 E. Sixth St. N., Newton, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and trespass-injury or damage greater than $300.
Nicholas Joseph White, 40, of 515 First St. S., Newton, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and trespass-injury or damage greater than $300.
The incident began about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, when an officer of the Jefferson Police Department responded to a report of a theft in progress at Durbin Automotive at 206 W. Head St. in Jefferson.
The officer made contact with the victim, who said he “heard cutting outside and saw one male under the flatbed tow truck and another male and female standing beside the tow truck” and that “the catalytic converter had been cut off of the flat bed tow truck,” according to court records.
The officer located and made contact with three people matching the description in a 1998 Jeep Cherokee about 3:15 a.m. in the 400 block of W. McKinley Street in Jefferson.
A probable-cause search of the vehicle disclosed “four catalytic converters, three reciprocating saws and miscellaneous metal cutting blades” along with “suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia,” according to court records.
The Greene County Sheriff’s office assisted in the investigation.
Trotter was held in the Greene County Jail before he was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 3 in the Greene County District Court.
Trotter was convicted of attempted third-degree burglary in 2003 in Polk County District Court.
Royce was held in the Greene County Jail before she was released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 3 in the Greene County District Court.
Royce was convicted of third-degree theft in 2011 in Jasper County District Court. She was convicted of third-degree burglary-unoccupied motor vehicle in 20013 in Jasper County District Court. She was convicted of fifth-degree theft in 2011 and 2012 in Jasper County District Court.
White was held in the Greene County Jail before he was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 3 in the Greene County District Court.
White was convicted of third-degree burglary in 1998 in Jasper County District Court. He was convicted of fifth-degree theft in 2010 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of fifth-degree theft in 2016 and 2017 in Jasper County District Court. He was convicted of trespassing in 2018 in Jasper County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
