A stalled vehicle-theft investigation involving a former Montezuma County commissioner has finally shifted into gear.
In connection to the 2012 Colorado State Patrol probe, an arrest warrant was issued in January for Richard Spears, 48, of Truth or Consequences, N.M., who was subsequently apprehended in May by the Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona. Spears made his first appearance before Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker last week.
At a scheduled arraignment hearing on Thursday, Nov. 6, Spear's defense attorney, Kelly McCabe, requested a continuance. Because of the voluminous records associated with the case, McCabe was granted additional time to complete a defense investigation of the files. A new arraignment hearing was set for Dec. 4.
Spears faces two counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft in connection to the case. Assistant District Attorney Sean Murray said Spears allegedly stole cement trucks from a building materials firm in Phoenix and then used former Montezuma County Commissioner Larrie Rule, an associate, as a "go-between" to sell the heavy equipment locally.
"No charges have been filed against Mr. Rule," Murray said. "We will see how this (Spears) case proceeds."
Made up of Colorado State Patrol and local agencies, the Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement task force conducted a search of Rule's home and business on Dec. 12, 2012. Rule said the investigation was politically motivated, telling The Cortez Journal earlier this year, "I had no idea the trucks were stolen."
Requested by Montezuma County sheriff-elect Steve Nowlin, then a CSP investigator, the search warrant was signed by Walker after the owner of a local gravel company said she became suspicious when Rule attempted to sell four cement trucks that belonged to his "buddy" for $40,000 each. All four trucks were reported stolen from Arizona.
The search warrant alleges that two of the trucks were delivered from Truth or Consequences to Rule's residence on County Road L in early December 2012. Rule reportedly told the gravel company owner that he paid extra to "clear up the titles."
Court records reveal that authorities seized two Kenmore model cement trucks, stolen registration certificates and and paint, hair and fiber samples.
Rule, who served two terms as a Republican county commissioner, left office because of term limits in January 2013. His wife, Pat DeGagne-Rule, resigned her position as head of the local Republican Party before a failed campaign attempt to obtain her husband's commissioner post.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com