Teen focus of theft spree

By Barry Porterfield
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat

October 03, 2008 03:45 pm

— A grand total of 11 formal charges have been filed against an Elmore City teenager accused of going on a theft spree last weekend with three juveniles.
The accusations filed earlier this week against 18-year-old Michael McConnell range from attempting several burglaries in rural areas around Elmore City and Katie, firing a shotgun in the air and even using a truck to run over and kill two dogs.
McConnell also got a trio of criminal counts for allegedly influencing the three underage boys to take part in the act early Saturday morning.
On the same day the double-digit charges were filed in Garvin County District Court, the teen was released after a $50,000 bond was posted.
A filed affidavit shows the case against McConnell began when a resident living south of Elmore City contacted county authorities about a gunshot being fired in the air as a flatbed truck sped through the area.
A short time later a nearby resident reported using a gun to scare off two trespassers who had gone into a shop building. It’s reported a 5-gallon container with lacquer thinner and a skill saw were stolen.
Next up a resident south of Katie reported seeing a flatbed truck after an attempted break-in.
That same resident claimed to have used a vehicle in an attempt to block the truck on a dead-end road. The truck is reported to have escaped by going through a ditch.
Yet another Katie area resident later claimed to spot the truck after a disturbance in the still early morning hours.
While investigating the noise the resident opened a fence, which resulted in his two beagle dogs escaping.
According to the affidavit, the driver of the flatbed truck then drove toward the resident forcing him to take evasive action to avoid being struck.
That resulted in McConnell receiving a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
During that same time the truck ran over and killed the two dogs, which resulted in one of two misdemeanor charges being filed against the area teen.
County authorities later learned a glass door and window were broken at a house being remodeled north of Katie. Records show a chop saw and chain saw were taken.
Only a handful of hours after the incidents began a description of the truck led deputies led to the names of McConnell and the three juvenile subjects.
Juvenile Services was contacted about cases against the underage suspects, while McConnell was taken into custody that same morning with the charges following Monday.
In all, three felony charges of second-degree burglary were filed against McConnell with one accusing him of stealing a small ice chest from an RV travel trailer.
A filed affidavit shows it’s believed most of the stolen items were simply thrown onto the ground after the thefts.