Stolen property at Thornton said to be worth thousands

Whitman County deputies on May 15 recovered stolen property, including several vehicles, in a warrant search of a residence on Sunset Road at Thornton. Arrested was Keith B. Kautzman, 47, who reportedly had recently moved to the residence.

Sheriff Brett Myers’ report said deputies became aware of the Thornton site after receiving reports from the public about heavy traffic on the road. The sheriff said deputies took Kautzman into custody on the basis of arrest warrants which had been issued from Spokane County and Stevens County. Kautzman was sought on an active felony warrant from Spokane County for possession of stolen property. The warrant out of Stevens County was for possession of methamphetamine.

Myers said they obtained a warrant to search the residence and the property. Two other males reportedly living at the house, Sean B. Mac Lean, 46, and Robert D. Dewbre, 36, were also believed to be involved in the property crimes.

Among the items recovered was a 2011 Sundance 5th wheel trailer which was reported stolen last month in Lincoln County and a 1999 Fleetwood Prowler fifth wheel reportedly stolen out of Pend Oreille County three years ago. Also recovered was a 1994 Suzuki 250 dirt bike and a Honda Pilot dune buggy, a laptop computer and two chain saws.

The sheriff said deputies located more than one ounce of packaged methamphetamine.

The report said Dewbre told deputies in Spokane Friday he had purchased the Prowler from a man in a parking lot of a Rosauer’s store in Spokane. He told them he did not know the name of the seller.

Judge David Frazier Friday set Kautzman’s bail for pre-trial release at $50,000. The judge noted the question of bail here was somewhat moot because Kautzman would remain in custody for the warrants pending out of Stevens and Spokane counties. The bail sum here would be dropped if the state fails to file a former charge within 72 hours.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan Le Beau told the court Kautzman’s prior record included issuance of 14 warrants on prior cases.

A second suspect in the case, Dewbre, was, arrested Friday in Spokane and booked into jail here at 8:15 p.m. on probable charges of possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.

According to the arrest report, Dewbre was believed to have been residing in the 1999 Fleetwood Prowler fifth wheel trailer which was located on the property. The Prowler, valued at $15,000, was allegedly reported stolen in 2011 from the owner in Pend Oreille County.

The report said methamphetamine was found inside the Prowler which was searched as part of a warrant search which was issued for the house and property.

Dewbre was allowed release on his own recognizance Monday after a first appearance in court. Mark Monson was appointed as his defense attorney.