HARRISBURG — Two men found themselves behind bars after offering to move a car for a friend and then driving away in it.
According to authorities, Christopher D. Owens, 20, of 5733 Old Highway 13 West, and Caleb Zacharia Hull, 33, of 2 North Skaggs St., Apt. 705, both of Harrisburg have been charged with one count each of Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle.
According to official reports, on November 15 at approximately 8:25 p.m. James Houston, of 216 South Main St., Harrisburg contacted dispatch and reported that his girlfriend’s car had been stolen.
The report indicates that Houston lives with his mother at the South Main Street address and that the car had been stolen while it was parked nearby on Gaskin Street.
Sgt. James “Whipper” Johnson responded to the scene and spoke with both Houston and his girlfriend/owner of the 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, Anya Rice, of 36 Cotton Wood Dr., Mt. Vernon, Ind.
Houston reported to Sgt. Johnson that his neighbor Chris Owens had just taken off in the car.
Houston told officers he had driven Rice’s car to Farm Fresh grocery that night and had both Owens and Hull as passengers with him.
He said he was confronted by Kevin Woods who, he said was attempting to start a fight with him.
Houston said he drove off and parked the car in a church parking lot on East Gaskins Street, near his mother’s house because he didn’t want Woods to know where his mother lived.
He said he traveled through backyards and eventually ducked into his mother’s back door.
Houston said he was on his mother’s back porch talking to dispatch when he saw Woods pull up and start talking to Owens and Hull who had remained near the parked vehicle.
A few minutes later Owens and Hull walked to where Houston was, told him Woods might be coming back and offered to move the car for him and park it next to his mother’s house.
Houston said that’s when the pair went back to the car, Owens getting behind the wheel and Hull in the passenger’s seat, and started driving.
But instead of turning off Main Street into his mother’s drive, Owens sped up and continued southbound on Main Street.
He said the pair stayed gone all night and must have returned the car in the early morning hours.
Officers searched throughout the rest of the night but could not locate the car.
However at 9:22 a.m. the next morning Rice called dispatch and reported that her car was parked outside Houston’s mother’s house but that her purse, which was inside the vehicle, was missing.
Rice reported that the contents of her purse appeared to have been dumped in the back seat of the car.
She also reported the car had a quarter tank of gas the night before and was empty when she found it.
When questioned, Hull said that he and Owens were out in the car all night and even admitted they did not have permission to be using the car.
Owens, on the other hand, denied knowing anything about the car or being out in it all night.
Both denied knowing anything about the missing purse.
While Hull has previous arrests for Theft and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, those charges were ultimately dismissed.
Owens, on the other hand, just finished up a three year prison sentence after being convicted of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property, less than $500 and Knowingly Damaging Property $300-$10,000.
Owens was also ordered to pay $3,961.48 in fines and fees of which $3,861.48 has not been paid.
Both men were housed in the Saline County Detention Center on $2,000 cash bond.
Criminal trespass
A Harrisburg man has been charged with Criminal Trespass to an Occupied Residence.
According to authorities, on November 8. Matthew Shawn Denbow, 35, of 107 West Lincoln, Harrisburg, knowingly and without authority entered the residence of Sophia N. Hobson, located at 216 Southwest Dr., Harrisburg, and remained in the residence after he knew that one or more persons were present.
Denbow was released from custody Nov. 30, after a $1,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Sheree Potts, of 720 Mundy St., Eldorado.
Denbow was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery/Public Place in 1999.
He later pled guilty to an amended charged of misdemeanor charge of Battery and was sentenced to 12 months court supervision and ordered to pay $671 in fines and fees.
On December 2, West Frankfort defense attorney Terry M. Green has entered an appearance on behalf of Denbow.