Arrests of two Poplar Bluff men clear up 19 burglaries

POPLAR BLUFF -- The recovery of thousands of dollars worth of property and the arrest of two Poplar Bluff men has ended investigation into at least 19 area burglaries.

Jackson Sharp Jett, 47, and Steven Eugene Dover, 43, were charged Thursday with the Class C felony of second-degree burglary, according to the Butler County prosecuting attorney's office.

Jett's bond was recommended at $5,000, while Dover's was recommended at $15,000 cash.

Both men remain in the Butler County jail awaiting arraignment today in Division II before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth.

The complaint on file with the court alleges that on Monday they entered an "inhabitable structure located at 5362 Route W owned by James R. Lee for the purpose of committing the crime of stealing therein."

According to Butler County Lt. Jerry Armes, the alleged burglary at the Lee house is just one of the crimes the men are suspected in.

Month of burglaries

Their arrests are going to clear between "19 and 20 crimes, includes about 15 Butler County burglaries and three to four city burglaries," Armes said. The area has been victim to many burglaries throughout the month of July, Armes said.

Sheriff Bill Heaton coordinated the investigation and Armes said he and the sheriff spent a lot of hours in the area gathering information about the crimes.

During their investigation, Armes said they received reports of people seeing a couple of unfamiliar vehicles in that area, including a blue pickup with a camper.

On Monday Heaton and Armes were in the Route W-Oak Briar area when they heard a deputy had "made contact with a stolen vehicle on NN Route at DJ's Pawn," said Armes, who responded with the sheriff to assist the deputy.

Unfamiliar truck

One area resident had reportedly seen a truck matching the description of Jett's Monday. It was parked on the side of the road near where one of the earlier burglaries had occurred at the Parkinson residence, Armes said.

"A little later another citizen said he had seen a truck on W Highway and had gotten a partial license plate that matched what I had ran through the computer," Armes explained.

Deputy Scott Phelps had also taken a report which indicated the same truck had been seen in the County Road 525-Route W area loaded with new lumber, Armes said.

Lumber had earlier been reported stolen from a construction site on County Road 525.

"At that point, we knew Jett was involved in the theft of lumber," Armes said. Another person had reported seeing the truck at the store at the intersection of Route W and Highway 172 with a long-haired male passenger, Armes said.

Questions and confessions

Jett was called in for questioning Monday afternoon and soon confessed to the theft and implicated Dover in some of the crimes.

According to Armes, Jett told him that "Dover did a burglary on the Parkinson house by himself and as he was leaving the residence, he lost part of the money and coin collection" in a wooded area.

After reportedly looking for the money on Monday, the men allegedly entered at least four residences.

Jett took Armes and Deputy Becky Hays to the locations of their alleged crimes.

"He showed us three burglaries we didn't have," Armes said.

Heaton, Phelps and Police Detective Jeff Rolland arrested Dover who subsequently confessed to his role in the alleged crimes, Armes said.

"A lot of the items were sold to people in south Poplar Bluff," Armes said.

Heaton, Phelps and Rolland went to several residences on Henry and Saxon streets where they recovered such items as an air compressor, lawn mower, Weedeater, X Box, numerous power tools and a large quantity of lumber, Armes said.

Stolen items were also allegedly recovered from Dover and Jett's residences, as well as the pawn shops in Dexter and Butler County.

"We recovered several thousands dollars worth of property" stolen from about 19 burglaries and thefts in the county and city, said Armes who suspects greed was the pair's motivation.

"We believe some drugs was involved," Armes said. "We know they traded some items for drugs.î"

Armes said Jett and Dover may face additional charges and those that they allegedly sold the property to may face possible receiving stolen property charges.

Armes credited the citizens for their help in this investigation.

"A lot of citizens gave us information and were very helpful," he said.