Charges relate to string of burglaries in Hilltop area

A Cassville man is facing 11 felonies and seven misdemeanors relating to alleged burglaries in the Hilltop area from March to September.

Monte Lucas, 23, of Cassville, is charged with the following felonies: possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree burglary and eight counts of stealing. Misdemeanor charges include stealing, trespassing, property damage and tampering with a motor vehicle.

The first charges against Lucas go back to an incident in February at 5:45 a.m. at Cassville Storage at the corner of Highways 76 and 86. According to a probable cause statement filed by Deputy Jeremy Bemer, with the barry County Sheriff’s Office, Lucas was allegedly caught on surveillance camera footage inside the fenced area after business hours going through the interior of a truck.

Lucas was located and identified at a nearby convenience store, with Bemer noting dirt stains on his knees and tears in his coat consistent with crawling under fencing. A search of his person allegedly revealed a glass smoking device, which tested positive for methamphetamine, a .22 caliber revolver and unspent bullets.

After further review of surveillance footage, Lucas allegedly entered the storage lot after gaining entry into Brice’s Towing.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Donnie Privett, interim chief of the Cassville Police Department, at about 9:57 a.m. on March 25, officers were dispatched to a home in the 600 block of West 7th Street in regard to a stolen fuel can.

Lucas was allegedly captured on surveillance camera at about 12:09 a.m. taking the can from the garage attached to the house while the occupants of the home were inside. Privett recovered and returned the can the following day, and another occupant of the home noted a vehicle had sustained damage to the fuel tank door, as someone had attempted to pry it open.

On Sept. 12, according to a probable cause statement filed by Bemer, deputies were dispatched to a theft report, with the victim saying an iPad, bank bag, set of keys, and purse containing a wallet with credit cards were stolen from a vehicle.

Bemer and other deputies from the Sheriff’s Office conducted a follow-up, in reference to Hilltop-area thefts, at a camper located in the 19500 area of Highway 112.

“After several attempts, Monte Lucas exited the camper located on the property,” Bemer said. “Monte was detained and advised of his rights by reading a Miranda Warning card. Monte admitted to breaking into multiple vehicles within the last week. Monte was asked about an iPad which he stated was inside the camper along with other items he stated he had stolen.”

Recovered from the camper was all the items the victim has listed, plus other items totaling $1,399.49 in value.

Along with the stolen property was a class ring, which contained the victim’s name. When Bemer contacted the victim, they said their patio had been ransacked on the night of Sept. 5. Lucas allegedly admitted to stealing the class ring, valued at $200, from a box outside.

Lucas was booked into the Barry County jail on Sept. 12 at 9:51 a.m. and had been held on no bond after failing to appear for cases earlier in the year. His bond is now listed at $7,500.

Lucas’ case with the most charges, seven felonies for stealing relating to the vehicle iPad and purse theft, has a disposition hearing set for Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke. Two other cases have a bond hearing set for the same day, and the final three cases have disposition hearings set for Nov. 7 at 1 p.m., two bound over to circuit court and in the courtroom of Judge David Cole, and the third in Foulke’s courtroom.