Stolen vehicles lead to arrest of Sallisaw couple
A Sallisaw couple is facing a felony charge of possession of stolen vehicle in Sequoyah County District Court after two vehicles reported to be stolen out of Fort Smith, Ark. were discovered in their driveway.
A Sallisaw couple is facing a felony charge of possession of stolen vehicle in Sequoyah County District Court after two vehicles reported to be stolen out of Fort Smith, Ark. were discovered in their driveway.
Jamie L. Lee, 40, and Clinton E. Daniels, 39, were each charged on Jan. 10 and received a $10,000 bond. They are both are now scheduled for a Feb. 22 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.
Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy Daniel Whitus reported on Dec. 29 he was dispatched to Wildhorse Mountain Estates to try and locate two stolen vehicles, a 2009 silver Jeep Wrangler and a 2014 black Dodge Challenger, allegedly stolen in Fort Smith by Lee.
Whitus reported one of the vehicles matching the description of one of those taken had a tracking device and reportedly pinged at an address on S. 4612 Road, according to the probable cause affidavit. In the driveway of the location, Whitus reported finding another vehicle registered to the possible suspect (Lee).
The deputy reported he had probable cause to check the VIN numbers since there was a locked gate at the end of the driveway, and preceded to the residence where he found paper on the dash, blocking both VIN numbers. Both vehicles reportedly matched the descriptions given by Fort Smith authorities as the two that were allegedly stolen.
About 10 minutes later, Lee reportedly came to the door and asked what the deputy was doing in her yard. Whitus explained the vehicles had been reported as stolen and he was there to recover them, according to the affidavit. Lee stated she owned the vehicles and didn’t understand why they had been reported as stolen, and asked what she needed to do.
Whitus asked Lee if she would unlock the vehicles so he could verify the VIN numbers and Lee agreed to do so. However, when Lee exited the residence with the keys, Daniels returned with her. The couple reportedly unlocked the vehicles and were able to gather their personal belongings from inside, according to the affidavit.
A tow truck was called to the residence to take possession of the vehicles and when Daniels was asked if he knew there were tracking devices on them, he reportedly told the deputy there used to be but he had removed them.
District Attorney Jack Thorp said if found guilty of the charge, it is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed two years.
