A Syracuse teen was preliminarily charged last week in Kosciusko County in connection with a reported three-car, three-state theft spree he allegedly conducted with a Wabash County teen.

Kenton A. Secor, 17, of 619 E. North Shore Drive, Syracuse, was preliminarily charged March 13 with auto theft, theft from a residence and receiving stolen property. He was released to his parents' custody pending action in juvenile court.

The charges stem from a March 12 complaint to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department of an abandoned car along Swallow Drive, Cromwell. Upon investigation of the abandoned car, police reportedly found West Virginia plates stowed under the seat of the Grand Prix.

According to police reports, Secor allegedly confessed to going with the Wabash County teen - identified only as "Eric" in Kosciusko County reports - when an S-10 pickup was stolen in North Manchester.

The two later stole a Geo Tracker en route to West Virginia, according to police reports.

In Ohio, Eric hit a deer with the pickup. They then allegedly burned and abandoned that vehicle and continued toward West Virginia in the Tracker, police said.

Arriving in West Virginia, Eric allegedly stole the 1995 Grand Prix, which was reported abandoned to police last week. The two then burned and abandoned the Tracker before returning to the area.

Secor allegedly told police where to find a handgun he had thrown away near the abandoned car.

The gun, which Secor allegedly took from the home of Tim Weisser, East North Shore Drive, Syracuse, was not used in the alleged thefts, KCSD Det. Tom Brindle said.

Investigators in Wabash County have identified Eric as a resident there and have interviewed him concerning the incidents, Brindle said. [[In-content Ad]]