Suspect pleads not guilty to theft of silver bar
Arizona Coin Collector
http://nwanews.com/bcdr/News/68903/
The Benton County Daily Record
Suspect pleads not guilty to theft of silver bar
By Tracy M. Neal Staff Writer
tra...@nwanews.com
Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Another one of the people accused
of stealing a silver bar and other items worth
more than $100,000 from a Bentonville man
pleaded not guilty Monday.
Jonathan Hodge pleaded not guilty to residential
burglary, a class B felony, which is punishable
with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20
years. He entered the plea during his
arraignment before Circuit Judge David Clinger.
Hodge, Adam Phillips, Brandon Windham, Alicia
Linn, Maxwell Horton and a juvenile have been
arrested in connection with the stolen silver
bar and other items valued at more than
$100,000. The suspects' arrests came after
Roger Troutman, the owner of apartments at
1010 S.W. A St., reported a burglary,
according to court documents. Troutman told
The Daily Record the items are worth in
excess of $300,000.
On Aug. 19, Troutman reported that two safes
were removed from a closet in his apartment.
He reported to police that the safes contained
$9,000 in cash; a silver bar stamped Royal
Canadian Mint valued at $20,000; five gold
Eagle coins valued at $1,000 each; 10 gold
coins known as a 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.
Troutman told police that his maintenance man,
Hodge, 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.
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.
Stegall recovered some of the coins. One alone
was valued at an estimated $5,000, court
documents state.
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.
Hodge's next court appearance will be at
8:30 a.m. Jan. 15.
The cases against the other suspects have
not been resolved.
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