Summons on 19 wheat theft charges

James Hughes, 52, Endicott, has been summoned to appear in court May 18, after 19 counts of first degree theft were filed against him Tuesday in Whitman County Superior court. The charges allege Hughes took loads of wheat over a three year span. Each of the 19 different charges alleges wheat was taken on a different dates beginning April 24, 2009, and ending July 6 of last year.

The charges were filed by Prosecutor Denis Tracy. Value of the wheat in each count was alleged at more than $5,000, the amount required for a first-degree theft charge.

The charges evolved out of an investigation which...