Joseph Robert Elders of Mountain Home was sentenced to five years probation during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday after entering a guilty plea to charges stemming from the theft of jewelry from the home of relatives.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the relatives reported the theft of jewelry from their residence, telling investigators the items had been located in a jewelry box in a bedroom closet of the home.
The 22-year-old Elders and a woman identified in police reports as his fiancé, 19-year-old Lauren Kratochvil, were developed as suspects in the theft. The victims told investigators Elders and Kratochvil had been at their home in early March last year. As investigators continued to look into the case, they discovered Elders and Kratochvil had been pawning some pieces of the stolen jewelry in shops locally, as well as in Jonesboro and Conway.
The first item was pawned just a day after the couple had visited the victims’ home.
Elders was sentenced under provisions of Act 346, meaning if he remains out of trouble during his probation period, he can apply to the court to have his record sealed. Kratochvil was also sentenced to five years probation under provisions of Act 346 in November last year.
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