Silver bar valued at $20K sold for $30
Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
BENTONVILLE — What would you do with a silver bar valued at $ 20, 000 ?
Your answer is probably much different from those of the suspects accused of robbing a Bentonville man. They allegedly sold the silver bar for $ 30.
Adam Phillips, Jonathan Hodge, Brandon Windham, Alicia Linn, Maxwell Horton and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with the stolen silver bar and other items valued at up to $ 100, 000.
The suspects’ arrests came after Roger Trautman, the owner of apartments at 1010 S. W. A St., reported a burglary, according to court documents.
Trautman reported on Aug. 19 that two safes were removed from a closet in his apartment. He reported to police that the safes contained $ 9, 000; a silver bar stamped Royal Canadian Mint and valued at $ 20, 000; five gold Eagle coins valued at $ 1, 000 each; 10 gold coins known as “ Type Set, ” with an estimated value of $ 10, 000; and a rare D. H. Lawrence first-edition book with an estimated value of $ 5, 000. One safe also contained a canvas bag containing silver coins with an estimated value of $ 10, 000, according to court documents. Various World War II medals were also missing, court documents state.
Trautman told police that Hodge, his maintenance man, could possibly have some information concerning the burglary, an affidavit in the case states.
When Bentonville Police Department detective Mike Stegall questioned Hodge, he admitted involvement in the crime. According to the affidavit, Hodge told police that his roommate, Phillips, saw money in one of the safes, then convinced Hodge to steal the safes, the affidavit states.
Hodge claimed Horton and the juvenile also assisted with the crime, the affidavit states.
Phillips claimed they took the safes to Windham’s home in Springdale, where they used a cutting torch and crowbars to break into the safes.
Phillips claimed Windham was under the belief that the safes belonged to Phillips’ father, and they gave Windham $ 200 for cutting open the safes, the affidavit states.
Phillips claimed they sold the silver bar for $ 30 to a person in Fayetteville because they thought it was a lead bar, the affidavit states. Phillips claimed they needed $ 30 for gasoline, according to the affidavit.
Phillips claimed he got $ 1, 000 in cash and coins and believes Hodge received $ 200. Phillips believes Horton received more cash than he and Hodge, according to court documents. The juvenile and Linn also received some of the coins, court documents state.
Linn admitted to selling some coins for $ 5, 700 and $ 360 to a business in Fayetteville in two different transactions, court documents reflect.
Stegall recovered some of the coins. One alone was valued at an estimated $ 5, 000, according to court documents.
Phillips, 20, of Bentonville is charged with residential burglary, a class B felony; Windham, 21, of Springdale, is charged with breaking or entering, a class D felony; and Linn, 18, of Springdale is charged with theft by receiving, a class B felony. Formal charges have not been filed against Hodge in connection with the crime.
However, some of the suspects may face more charges in connection with other crimes in the area.
Phillips also confessed his involvement in other crimes in northwest Arkansas. The acts included a burglary in Tontitown; and stealing vehicles from car lots in Rogers, from another car lot in Benton County and from a lot in Grove, Okla. Philips claimed they set the Aug. 11 fire at A & M Sales in Rogers to get rid of any fingerprints and DNA evidence after stealing three vehicles, according to court documents.
Phillips claimed that he, Hodge and the juvenile took the vehicles and were responsible for starting the fire, court documents state.
Prosecutors have not filed formal charges in connection with the fire and vehicle thefts, Deputy Prosecutor Virginia Gottman said.
Police also recovered the silver bar, Gottman said.
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