Two arrested for burglary, theft in Scott County

Thursday, January 7, 2016
James H. Daniels II
Grant Daniels

BENTON -- Two area men face theft charges in rural Scott County.

James H. Daniels II , 31, of Bell City is charged with two counts of second degree burglary, two counts of stealing and two counts of property damage.

Grant Daniels, 26, of Benton is charged with two counts of second degree burglary, two counts of stealing, two counts of property damage and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter Walter said his office received a report Wednesday morning of a farm machine shop burglary and theft east of Benton. Multiple tools were stolen along with a utility trailer, he said.

Another machine shop burglary was reported Wednesday afternoon in the same general area, but nothing was reported missing, the sheriff said.

Rural crimes investigator Barry Morgan was contacted late Wednesday when the suspects returned to the scene of the second incident and attempted to steal tools.

"The owner of the property -- thinking the suspects would return -- was watching the building. The suspects fled from the area, leaving behind tools they just removed from the machine shop in a bag that belonged to the suspects," Walter said.

A vehicle description provided by the victim, along with an article in the tool bag led Morgan to the location of the suspects who were still in possession of the burglar tools.

Walter said the majority of the stolen property, including the utility trailer, has been recovered.

"Rural crimes of this nature are very difficult to solve because of the geographical area where they occur," Walter said. "The farming community working closely with our rural crimes investigator has made us much more successful.

James Daniels and Grant Daniels both remain in custody at the Scott County Jail. Bond is set at $1,500 cash each.

For this story and more, see the Friday edition of the Standard Democrat.

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