An arraignment for one of three alleged thieves in a local burglary ring was postponed on Tuesday. The other two suspects were also scheduled to appear in court this week.
District Court Judge Todd Plewe on Tuesday, Jan. 7 continued an arraignment hearing for Brent Walker, 59, of Dolores. Out of custody on a $15,000 bond, Walker's case was delayed until 10 a.m. on Feb. 20 to allow court officials time to combine two pending cases.
Court records reveal that Walker is charged with two Class 4 felonies for theft and second-degree burglary in one case. Charges pending in the second case were not immediately available.
Two others have also been charged with similar offenses in connection to the case, including Tara L. Montgomery, 31, and Mark D. Williams, 41.
Released on $18,000 in total bonds, Montgomery was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Jan. 9, after press deadlines.
Also out on a total of $25,000 in bonds, Williams case was also postponed on Wednesday, Jan. 8, because defense counsel had yet to receive discovery materials in the case.
Court records reveal the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office conducted three search warrants in November in connection to stolen firearms, Native American artifacts and hunting equipment valued at approximately $60,000. The items were reported stolen on July 15 from a locked storage unit at Triple Six Storage on Hwy. 491 in Cortez.
The stolen items include about a dozen firearms worth $8,000 and numerous Native American artifacts totaling some $10,000, court records reveal.
According to court records, Montgomery told police the trio was responsible for numerous burglaries in the area. Each of the three suspects has two pending cases, according to court officials.
Records reveal an inmate at the Montezuma County jail led officials to a residence on County Road M.7 where a majority of the stolen goods were recovered.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com