The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently concluded a nearly 6 month investigation that has solved burglaries and stealing cases in Douglas, Greene, Ozark, Taney and Webster Counties, along with the cities of Springfield and Cabool.
Sheriff Chris Degase said he and Deputy Vernon Johnson were the primary investigators on the case; however, every deputy was involved in the case in some form or fashion.
The investigation has solved burglaries and theft-related crimes that occurred as far back as January of 2010.
At the conclusion of the investigation, numerous warrants were issued for James Ellison, Jr. (also known as “Bo”), 25, of Goodhope and Doyle Wayne Shelton, Jr., 36, of Ava.
Sheriff Degase said many crimes were solved and in the majority of the cases the property was recovered, however in some of the cases the property was sold as salvage or traded for other goods and officers were unable to recover the property.
At this time in the investigation, Sheriff Degase said that multiple warrants have been requested and issued on both Ellison and Shelton.
Shelton has been charged with the following in Douglas County: larceny (2 counts), second-degree burglary, receiving stolen property (2 counts), theft/stealing, resisting/interfering with arrest.
Shelton also has numerous warrants out of Taney County.
Shelton is incarcerated in Taney County on Taney County charges.
Sheriff Degase announced that he anticipates additional charges will be filed as the cases are being closed.
James R. Ellison was charged with the following crimes: second-degree burglary, theft or stealing of a firearm, theft/stealing of a property worth more than $500 (2 counts), receiving stolen property, resisting arrest by fleeing.
Ellison has posted bond on his warrants and is awaiting future court dates.
The following items have been recovered by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office:
Numerous metal gates, stolen from Douglas, Ozark and Taney counties.
Numerous Steel T-Post stolen from Douglas, Ozark and Taney counties.
2006 Honda Four Wheeler stolen from Taney County, recovered in Searcy County, Ark.
Pickup truck stolen from Webster County, recovered in Douglas County.
Garden tiller stolen from Taney County, recovered in Douglas County.
Garden tiller stolen in Douglas County, recovered in Ozark County
Flatbed tilt trailer with winch stolen from Springfield, recovered in Douglas County.
Finish mower stolen in Springfield, recovered in Ozark County.
Two welders stolen in Taney County, recovered in Douglas County.
Wood splitter stolen in Douglas County, recovered in Ozark County.
Woodstove stolen from a residence in Douglas County, recovered in Texas County.
Sheriff Degase said he anticipates approximately 20 cases of burglaries and stealing will be solved in Douglas County as well as numerous cases in the surrounding counties at the end of this investigation.
In several of the cases property was recovered that had been stolen when the owner was unaware it was stolen.
Sheriff Degase would like to apologize if he and Deputy Johnson have been hard to make contact with the last several weeks, however this case was of top priority and has led them to numerous surrounding counties and states in attempts to recover property.
Sheriff Degase estimates that the department recovered between $25,000 and $30,000 of stolen property.
Sheriff Degase would to thank the agencies from surrounding counties and states for their assistance in this case.
