One individual has been taken into custody and charged with multiple felonies in connection with a series of burglaries in the western part of Perry County while another is being sought, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Joseph A. Shelley, 30, of Farmington, has been taken into custody and charged with three counts of felony burglary, one count of felony stealing, two counts of misdemeanor stealing and one count of misdemeanor property damage, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
At this time, Shelly is being held at the Perry County Jail on $25,000 cash bond.
The Sheriff's Office was still looking for Shelly's alleged accomplice, 31 year old Dustin Bishop, of Bismark. As of Wednesday, April 20, the sheriff reported that Bishop had been taken into custody in St. Francois County. Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said his office was in the process of sending a deputy to further question Bishop about the incident.
On April 14, a country resident in the 2800 block of Highway BB reported two burglaries, according to a Perry County Sheriff’s office probable cause affidavit. Two sheds had allegedly been entered and property had been stolen from each one. The items taken from the first shed included a Stihl chainsaw, grase gun, air compressor, mechanics chair and creeper, cattle tags and a gas can. In another second, located about a half mile away, a battery container, pitchfork, red toolbox and miscellaneous tools were taken.