Photos: Christopher Leon Osborn and Tanner Ray Sebold
Mountain Home Police have arrested two individuals in connection with a series of recent vehicle break-ins. Chief Carry Manuel says the two face additional charges for alleged criminal violations discovered during the investigation of the vehicle break-ins.
According to probable cause affidavits, 43-year-old Christopher Leon Osborn of Mountain Home and 24-year-old Tanner Ray Sebold of Yellville were suspects in the break-ins investigation and are charged with theft by receiving for possession of stolen firearms.
In Osborn’s case, it was reported to police the Mountain Home man and 22-year-old Rebecca Higgins, whose address was not provided, had entered a residence unlawfully. Law enforcement was told that while in the residence, Osborn allegedly beat a sleeping male with a pistol. Higgins allegedly stole items from the victim, and the two fled the area before officers arrived.
Photo: Rebecca Higgins
Later that day, an officer made a traffic stop for a vehicle driven by Higgins, with Osborn seated in the passenger side back seat.
Osborn advised there was a stolen firearm in the vehicle, and the loaded weapon was located under the seat where he was sitting.
A portion of the serial number on the weapon was defaced, but the first four numbers were legible.
The weapon was reported stolen the previous day.
A check with the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) database revealed Osborn is a convicted felon and an absconder.
Higgins allegedly admitted to taking a backpack belonging to the victim. She claimed she was attempting to return the stolen items found in the backpack when they were pulled over. Osborn allegedly admitted to beating the victim and said he broke his hand in the process.
In addition to the theft by receiving count, Osborn is charged with felony counts of aggravated residential burglary, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of firearms by certain person, meaning he is a convicted felon.
Online jail records indicate Higgins was charged with a misdemeanor count of theft by receiving and two vehicle citations.
In the Sebold case, officers conducted a search in a room at the Executive Inn in Mountain Home in reference to stolen handguns.
An individual described as the “owner of the room” and is on probation opened the door and allowed officers inside.
Upon entry, officers saw Sebold holding a plastic baggie containing a crystalline substance and was placed under arrest.
Officers also reportedly located a handgun in a pocket of Sebold’s pants. A check with the ACIC database revealed the weapon was reported stolen.
On a table next to the Marion County man officers found drug paraphernalia and a second baggie containing 2.1 grams of a crystalline substance.
Sebold faces two felony drug-related charges, along with the theft by receiving charge, as well as a count of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Bonds for Osborn and Sebold are set at $25,000 each.
Chief Manual says the break-ins investigation is continuing, and additional arrests are anticipated.
Earlier this week he said his department has received 12 recent reports of vehicle entries. Vehicles have been left unlocked, and most have been entered while parked in residential areas after 8 p.m. The most commonly stolen items are weapons, money, identification cards, membership cards, watches, prescription drugs, laptop computers, checkbooks, knives and safes.
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