Technology Leads To Arrest Of Mentone Man In Theft Case
December 27, 2018 at 7:01 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Aaron J. Guyberson, 31, of 305 N. Tucker St., Mentone, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County?Jail Dec. 19 for theft, burglary, possession of methamphetamines and forgery.
His preliminary bond was set at $10,000 surety and $250 cash.
Court documents filed Friday list the charges against him as burglary, a level 5 felony; two counts of theft, level 6 felonies; fraud, a level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; and three counts of theft, Class A misdemeanors.
The three counts of Class A misdemeanor theft were enhanced to level 6 felonies because Guyberson was previously convicted of conversion in St. Joseph County in 2017.
On Dec. 15, Mentone Police officers responded to a theft from a vehicle at 204 W. Harrison St., Mentone. Officers spoke with the victim who said unknown persons had entered his vehicle and stole his wallet that contained a credit card and $400 in cash. The victim said the credit card was used at Wilby’s gas station in Mentone for $56.17 and at the Walmart in Warsaw for $518.42.
The MPD officers responded that day to another theft from a vehicle. The victim of that theft said somebody got into her vehicle and stole a laptop computer valued at $300.
Responding to a third report of a theft from a vehicle also on Dec. 15, officers were told by that victim that somebody got into his vehicle and stole his Apple watch and handgun, valued at $900.
On Dec. 17, Mentone officers responded to a burglary to a detached garage. The location was redacted in court documents. Officers spoke with the victim who said unknown persons entered her garage and stole a string trimmer, leaf blower and generator, valued at $750. Officers saw the door jamb was broken and had been forced open.
During the same day, officers responded to a theft from a vehicle. The victim said unknown persons got into his vehicle sometime between Dec. 15 and 17 and stole two pair of sunglasses and coins, valued at $20.50.
Town Marshal Jim Eads went to Wilby’s and got the surveillance video that showed a person using the first victim’s credit card. The person in the video was a white male with facial hair, and he was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a woman in a silver Chrysler 200.
On Dec. 19, the owner of the Apple watch contacted Eads and said his watch had been turned on and gave Eads the location. Officers went to that location and found a man – identified as Guyberson – who matched the description of the suspect using the stolen credit card at Wilby’s. The silver Chrysler 200 also was parked at the residence.
Officers searched the residence and found the Apple watch on the sofa in the living room.
According to court documents, Guyberson admitted to officers that on Dec. 15 he got into several vehicles and stole an Apple watch, handgun, laptop computer and a wallet and also forced his way into a garage and stole a weedeater and a leaf blower. Guyberson said he used the stolen credit card to purchase food, alcohol, a television and some clothes.
While arresting Guyberson, officers found a plastic bag containing 7.2 grams of methamphetamines on him.
Aaron J. Guyberson, 31, of 305 N. Tucker St., Mentone, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County?Jail Dec. 19 for theft, burglary, possession of methamphetamines and forgery.
His preliminary bond was set at $10,000 surety and $250 cash.
Court documents filed Friday list the charges against him as burglary, a level 5 felony; two counts of theft, level 6 felonies; fraud, a level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; and three counts of theft, Class A misdemeanors.
The three counts of Class A misdemeanor theft were enhanced to level 6 felonies because Guyberson was previously convicted of conversion in St. Joseph County in 2017.
On Dec. 15, Mentone Police officers responded to a theft from a vehicle at 204 W. Harrison St., Mentone. Officers spoke with the victim who said unknown persons had entered his vehicle and stole his wallet that contained a credit card and $400 in cash. The victim said the credit card was used at Wilby’s gas station in Mentone for $56.17 and at the Walmart in Warsaw for $518.42.
The MPD officers responded that day to another theft from a vehicle. The victim of that theft said somebody got into her vehicle and stole a laptop computer valued at $300.
Responding to a third report of a theft from a vehicle also on Dec. 15, officers were told by that victim that somebody got into his vehicle and stole his Apple watch and handgun, valued at $900.
On Dec. 17, Mentone officers responded to a burglary to a detached garage. The location was redacted in court documents. Officers spoke with the victim who said unknown persons entered her garage and stole a string trimmer, leaf blower and generator, valued at $750. Officers saw the door jamb was broken and had been forced open.
During the same day, officers responded to a theft from a vehicle. The victim said unknown persons got into his vehicle sometime between Dec. 15 and 17 and stole two pair of sunglasses and coins, valued at $20.50.
Town Marshal Jim Eads went to Wilby’s and got the surveillance video that showed a person using the first victim’s credit card. The person in the video was a white male with facial hair, and he was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a woman in a silver Chrysler 200.
On Dec. 19, the owner of the Apple watch contacted Eads and said his watch had been turned on and gave Eads the location. Officers went to that location and found a man – identified as Guyberson – who matched the description of the suspect using the stolen credit card at Wilby’s. The silver Chrysler 200 also was parked at the residence.
Officers searched the residence and found the Apple watch on the sofa in the living room.
According to court documents, Guyberson admitted to officers that on Dec. 15 he got into several vehicles and stole an Apple watch, handgun, laptop computer and a wallet and also forced his way into a garage and stole a weedeater and a leaf blower. Guyberson said he used the stolen credit card to purchase food, alcohol, a television and some clothes.
While arresting Guyberson, officers found a plastic bag containing 7.2 grams of methamphetamines on him.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092