Two people have been charged with felonies after six firearms were stolen from a woman’s home on Mt. Liberty Road Aug. 22.
Indiana State Police Trooper Matthew Hatchett took the report at a home in the 2300 block, according to a probable cause affidavit. A person there told Hatchett that Jeremiah Anderson, 36, of North Vernon, had possibly stolen guns from her that belonged to her late husband.
That person said one of the bedroom windows had a fan in it, and it appeared it to have been removed. Her garage’s side door also appeared to be damaged. Hatchett was able to lift a fingerprint from a layer of dust on the fan, the report said.
The homeowner said she had arrived at the house earlier in the day to find Anderson and his girlfriend, Lacy Beltran, 31, of North Vernon, already there. That’s when she noticed the window fan had been tampered with and the damage to the garage side door, the affidavit said. She said she initially overlooked the damage because Anderson had mowed her yard for her, but he was not allowed to be in the home without her there.
The homeowner said she saw three of her husband’s chainsaws in the bed of his truck. She said Anderson became upset when asked to put the chainsaws back and he left the house. After he left, the homeowner said she noticed the guns were missing.
The homeowner was not sure about the models of the guns. She had asked a deputy to unload them after her husband passed away. Deputy William Pool had done that, and he was able to provide more information about the types of guns missing.
Hatchett requested a criminal history check on Anderson and found out he had various charges for theft-related crimes, according to the affidavit.
On Aug. 23, police went back to the home after they were notified that Anderson and Beltran were there again. Anderson also had an active warrant out of Jennings County for possession of marijuana.
When police arrived on scene, Anderson and Beltran were ordered to lay on the ground at gunpoint since they were suspects in the firearm theft, Hatchett reported in the affidavit.
At the Brown County Law Enforcement Center, Anderson and Beltran agreed to be interviewed. Anderson denied entering the home and taking any items. He requested to speak with a lawyer before answering more questions. Beltran told police that Anderson took the guns and that she had told him about a person in Jackson County whom he could sell them to, according to the affidavit. She said that person did not know the guns were stolen and that the guns should still be at that home in Jackson County.
Police went to speak with that person at the home in Jackson County. He said he paid $775 for the firearms. The purchaser willingly gave all six back to the police.
On Sept. 6, Anderson was charged with burglary, a Level 4 felony; residential entry, a Level 6 felony; and theft, a Level 6 felony.
Beltran was charged with aiding, inducing or causing theft, a Level 6 felony.
