Saturday, September 24, 2022 - A Roland man was charged Sept. 12 with a pair of larceny felonies.
Michael S. McGehee, 51, was charged with grand larceny and larceny of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Grand larceny is punishable by up to eight years in the state penitentiary, a fine of up to $1,000 or a fine, imprisonment and restitution. The penalty for larceny of an automobile is is up to five years in the Department of Corrections or by a fine that is equal to three times the value of the property that was taken.
On March 10, a Sequoyah County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a residence in reference to a theft investigation. Upon arrival, he spoke with Romano Sabastian, who said his late father had employed a live-in worker, McGehee. He stated that sometime that night McGehee had left, taking his 1998 Ford F-150, Kubota tractor/backhoe, a 22-foot trailer, a zero-turn mower, as well as several Snap-On and Craftsman tools.
Sabastian said he had tried to call McGehee, but his phone had been disconnected. Sabastian was able to provide some VIN numbers for the stolen items.
On March 11, a deputy was dispatched to a Gans residence to pick up a statement from Sabastian to add a Ford Mustang to the stolen items.
On April 14, a sheriff’s investigator was contacted by Sequoyah County dispatch, which advised him that they had received a hit from Carroll County, Ark., on the stolen Ford F-150. Found in the truck were fishing rods and reels, tool bags, a chainsaw, circular saw and a checkbook with Arnett Hill’s name on it. The checkbook had a check made out to McGehee for $100 and signed in Hill’s name.
The deputies went to Carroll County to speak with McGehee, who said the owner of the vehicle, Hill, had given him the truck and several tools and that Hill had hired a lawyer to sign everything over to him.
McGehee admitted to changing the truck’s VIN because he was trying to get a title for the truck. He also said he didn’t take the tractor or the gun that was also reported stolen.
McGehee said Sabastian and his sister had been talking about selling the tractor and other items. He said he forged the check with the intent of cashing it but he decided not to.
Laura Brown, Staff Writer
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