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Oklahoma Charges in Alleged Theft Ring







By: Sally Kaucher
Posted: Friday, February 17, 2012

An Oklahoma newspaper reports more charges in connection with the alleged thefts of items from numerous jurisdictions, including Taney County.

The Tahlequah Daily Press reports that 60-year old Richard Basnett, his wife, 59-year-old Jo Ashing, and 20-year-old son Devin Ashing are charged in Cherokee County with concealing stolen property.  Nineteen-year old Erica Bilby faces one such count. 

Basnett and his son are also charged with 4 counts each of concealing stolen construction or farm equipment.  Jo Ashing faces three of those counts. 

HometownDailyNews.com reported last week that the items reported stolen in Taney County are valued at some 89-thousand dollars.  Those items, including a truck, a skid-steer loader, tailgates, tires and wheels, were recovered from locations in Tahlequah and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Boone County-Arkansas Sheriff Danny Hickman reported this week that items recovered by his office were valued at more than 8-thousand dollars.

The total value of the items reported stolen from multiple jurisdictions is estimated at 200-thousand dollars.

Facing charges in Taney County are Jason Sears of Omaha-Arkansas and Edward Arnold of Western Grove.  Both have court dates next week.  Also charged is Sheila Kelley of Branson, who is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next month.