Hill charged in connection with church burglary
A Sallisaw man is facing a felony charge of knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property in connection with a local church that was burglarized last month.
OG&E lineman tools also found
A Sallisaw man is facing a felony charge of knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property in connection with a local church that was burglarized last month.
Kevin J. Hill Jr., 51, was charged Jan. 4 in Sequoyah County District Court and is scheduled to appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for a Jan. 18 felony disposition docket.
Sallisaw Police reported on Dec. 20 they were called to a church burglary on South Jenkins Street where they reportedly found an identification card on the ground belonging to Nathanial Thomas, who resides at the Motel 6 in Sallisaw, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Police went to the motel where they reported finding a truck with tools and a tool belt in the bed. The truck reportedly belonged to family members of Thomas and the items found were reported stolen during the burglary.
Thomas was located in another room of the motel where officers reported seeing an air compressor and air hose in plain site. He agreed to speak with officers outside and claimed the boots he was wearing were given to him by Hill, who was also in the room.
Detective Andrew Edwards went back to the room where he found Chalon Johnson, who had a warrant for her arrest and she was transported to the Sallisaw Police Department. Johnson reportedly granted the officers permission to search the room and seize any stolen property. Johnson claimed her boyfriend, Hill, had left the room prior to officers arriving.
Authorities reported finding rolls of residential wiring, an air hose, air compressor, tent, saw, charger deck, hammer, skilsaw, level, battery powered weedeater, batteries, power drill, mallet, hand tool, ratcheting strap, a speaker belonging to the church, and other miscellaneous tools during the search. Other items believed to have been stolen were recovered but were not identified as belonging to the church.
During the search, Edwards said when he tried to open the bathroom door there was something obstructing it and when he opened it further, he found Hill and Mellissa Burns inside. The duo was ordered out of the bathroom and taken into custody.
Police reported finding additional linemen tools, batteries and a battery charger that were later identified as belonging to OG&E, which were reported as stolen on the same night from a parking lot just west of the church.
District Attorney Jack Thorp said if found guilty of the charge, the crime is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary not to exceed five years or in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed $500, or both fine and imprisonment.