A man was given seven months in jail for a spree of four-wheeler thefts that ended when police found an ignition to one of the stolen vehicles in his girlfriend’s purse.
The man, William E. Clark, 43, entered a guilty plea to the charge of grand theft. He was given a four-year sentence of which he is to serve 219 days. He must also make restitution and perform 25 hours public service work as part of the sentence handed down to him by Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley. His partner in crime, Tracey McCurrey, will face her day in court April 22.
The two were busted when police received a tip there was stolen property being hidden in a barn off Old Smithville Highway. The tip was good, according to McMinnville patrolman Aaron Roberts, as they found two stolen four-wheelers there.
McCurry and Clark, both of whom were persons of interest in the thefts, were searched once lawmen found the stolen vehicles.
“She gave permission to search her purse which revealed a broken ignition to one of the stolen four-wheelers,” Roberts revealed in his warrant. The couple confessed once the evidence was found in her purse.