One of several persons charged in connection with a chop shop operation has made his initial appearance and his pre-preliminary hearing as been scheduled.
Kaleb Burleson, 19, of Prague, was charged May 26 in Lincoln County District Court with operating/dealing with a chop shop, conspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing property, all felonies.
When the charges were filed, a $10,000 bench warrant was issued for this arrest. Court records show the warrant for Burleson was returned and filed on June 1 and he made initial appearance on July 21 before Special Judge Emily Mueller.
She scheduled him for the disposition docket at 10 a.m. on Oct. 7. She now has scheduled his pre-preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 15.
At the time Burleson was charged, formal felony charges were also filed in Lincoln County District Court against Kenneth Gale Simon, 37, and Whitney Kristine Harrison, 34, both of Prague.
A $10,000 warrant was issued for the arrest of Harrison and a $15,000 bench warrant was issued for Simon.
The warrant for Harrison was returned and filed on June 23, court records show.
Her $10,000 bond remains and she appeared before Judge Mueller Aug. 18. She was ordered to reappear on Oct. 13.
ThewarrantforSimonwasreturned onAug. 1 and he was ordered to reappear on Aug. 4.
Simon faces charges of operating/ dealing with a chop shop after former conviction of two or more felonies, conspiracy after former conviction of two or more felonies and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property after conviction of two more felonies.
Harrisonischargedwithconspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property.
The conspiracy counts against the three accuse them between March 19 and April 8 of this year of conspiring and agreeing with one another and with Mick Vancuren, also of Prague, of conducting a chop shop and disassembling, dismantling, reassembling a motor vehicle known to be illegally obtained by theft in order to misrepresent the identity of the vehicle.
The information further states Vancuren, Simon and Burleson dismantled a Chevrolet truck stolen from KG Auto Sales in Shawnee at the property of Harrison.
Vancuren, 31, was charged in Lincoln County District Court on April 18 with four felonies in relation to the chop shop operation.
They include operating/dealing with a chop shop after former conviction of two or more felonies; conspiracy after former conviction of two or more felonies; pattern of criminal offenses after two or more felonies; and possession of stolen vehicle after former conviction of two or more felonies.
He was also charged with two misdemeanors, destroying evidence and obstructing an officer.
He made his initial appearance beforeAssociate District Judge Shelia Kirk on April 18. She set his bond at $10,000.
Vancuren has since been charged with two other felonies, one of which is intimidating a witness.