Warrants issued in four-wheeler theft case

Warrants have been issued for two men alleged to have kept a stolen four-wheeler after they found it.

Danny K. Stewart of Linton and Joshua D. Hollifield of rural Lyons are both wanted on preliminary charges of receiving stolen property, a class D felony.

The four-wheeler, a green 1997 Polaris Sportsman 500, was owned by Robert Worland, Jr. and was reported stolen from a residence in Worthington on Sept. 23.

It was recovered on Oct. 14 when Lyons Town Marshal Ron Sparks stopped it while Hollifield was riding it. The officer was not able to find a vehicle identification number (VIN), the ignition was torn up and Hollifield's license had been suspended so the four-wheeler was towed.

The next day, Sparks located the VIN and determined the four-wheeler had been stolen.

Sparks then contacted Deputy Marshal Eric Floyd of the Worthington Police Department and an investigation began.

In an attempt to locate Hollifield, the officers visited a trailer on White River in Washington Township where witnesses identified Stewart as a person riding the four-wheeler during a recent weekend camping trip with his daughter.

According to probable cause affidavits written by Floyd, both suspects were interviewed by the officers but their stories varied.

The four-wheeler was apparently found hung up in mud and Hollified and Stewart retrieved it then rode it as if it was their own.

The affidavits state both admitted they knew the four-wheeler was possibly stolen because the ignition was torn up but neither made an attempt to notify police.

Charges against the two men were filed late on Nov. 13 and warrants for their arrest were issued last week.