Bumbling Burglars Arrested After Selling Custom-Made Stolen Horse Tack Back to Creator

By Crystal Howerton

Culprits of the recent thefts and burglaries in Knox and surrounding counties slipped up when they tried to sell stolen horse harnesses back to the person who made them. 
According to Knox County Deputy Ryan Bishop, on or about June 8, 2007 miscellaneous horse equipment and feed in the amount of $1,200 was unlawfully taken from a shed located on Knox County Road #4 owned by Kevin Holdren.  On June 12, Deputy Bishop received a call from Holdren stating that Leroy Mullett, operator of Countryside Harness Shop in Milton, Iowa had recently purchased some of the property that was stolen from Holdren on June 8.  Ironically, the stolen harnesses were custom made for Holdren by Mullet, and Mullet recognized the harnesses immediately.
Deputy Bishop contacted the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office and requested that they question Mullet regarding the purchase of Holdren’s horse tack.  A statement by Mullet was returned containing the following information.  Mullett had purchased the stolen harnesses and other horse tack from a male and female on June 12 for $100.  Having spoken to Holdren prior to that regarding the stolen harnesses, which he replaced, Mullett recognized the harnesses as belonging to Holdren.  He identified the vehicle driven by the male and female as a red Chevrolet pickup with Missouri License Plate Number 196-TY8. 
Deputy Bishop stated that the license plate number given by Mullett revealed the vehicle registered to Randall L. Perkins, Memphis, Missouri on a 1981 Chevrolet truck.  On June 15, Deputy Bishop and Knox County Sheriff Mike Kite traveled to Milton to recover Holdren’s stolen property from Mullett.  Mullett and Gary Shelton were shown photographs of Randall L. Perkins and Crystal R. Jenkins that were positively identified. On July 16, Holdren identified his stolen property with the exception of a saddle, which he recognized as belonging to his father, William Holdren. 
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Edina Police Department and the Northeast Missouri Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant at a residence in Scotland County, Missouri on Friday, June 22, 2007.
Arrested were Randall L. Perkins, age 28, and Crystal R. Jenkins, age 17, of Scotland County, Missouri.  Both Perkins and Jenkins are being held on numerous charges including burglary and stealing.  Properties belonging to residents of Knox, Scotland, Shelby and Adair counties were recovered in the search.  As a result of this search eleven to fifteen burglaries have been solved.
Randall Perkins and Crystal Jenkins are being held on $7,500 cash only bond.  Additional charges are pending.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the assistance of those who helped bring the criminals to justice.