Theft in excess of $100,000 in gold coins
On February 11, 2014, YCSO deputies were called to a home in the 600 block of North Old Coach Road, Dewey, regarding a theft of gold coins. The 84-year-old victim told deputies he discovered 88 gold coins, each 1 ounce in weight, were missing. The estimated loss was in excess of $100,000 and the theft occurred sometime between October 2013 and January 2014. The coins had been kept in a safe and he believed his ex-girlfriend, 59-year-old Cheryl Clement, might have secretly obtained the combination allowing access to the coins.
The victim explained that in August of 2013, Clement moved out of his home and by then, knew his daily routine and when he would be out of town. Additionally, the victim was recently contacted by Clement’s daughter who suspected her mom was in possession of gold coins belonging to him. When the victim checked his safe following this conversation, he confirmed 88 gold coins were missing. His last inventory had been several months prior. The victim never gave Clement access to the safe or coins.
The case was referred to detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Their investigation revealed Clement had purchased several vehicles from a local car salesman she was dating beginning in August of 2013, and provided gold coins as payment in some of those transactions. Detectives eventually located a 5th wheel trailer purchased locally by Clement which has now been seized as evidence. Detectives also tracked down several of Clement’s friends who received gold coins from her which they cashed out to purchase various items, including a Harley Davidson motorcycle in one case. Some of the victim’s gold coins were traced to various gold and coin shops in the Prescott area. Only 3 coins have been recovered so far.
Yesterday, detectives learned Clement was already in-custody resulting from a Prescott Police arrest on an unrelated case. YCSO filed new charges which include Burglary, Theft, and 5 counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property. Bond has been set at $150,000. Clement has denied the theft. A search for the vehicles purchased by the suspect is ongoing.
Diligent follow-up on cold case leads and a dumb thief to an arrest
On July 14, 2012, YCSO deputies filed a burglary report on behalf of the Bagdad Corrals indicating unknown suspect(s) broke into a tack room and stole 3 saddles amongst various other tack items. Total loss was estimated at $3500.
Almost 18 months later, on February 5, 2014, a deputy assigned to Bagdad patrol received information about a man who sold a saddle and tack believed stolen and possibly related to this burglary. The man was identified as 24-year-old Tyler Orell from Bagdad. The individual, who purchased the saddle from Orell for $150 in November of 2012, was located and had since sold it to another party. The second owner was found and the saddle was recovered. Deputies learned Orell went out of state following this transaction, had since returned, and contacted the original buyer about the saddle. Orell admitted stealing the saddle from the Bagdad Corrals to the buyer.
As the investigation continued, deputies discovered Orell sold two more saddles and tack to another party in Wilhoit. The buyers were located and indicated Orell had approached them at a Wilhoit store previously offering to sell two saddles and tack. They agreed and completed the purchase. These items were recovered and all the saddles and tack seized were positively identified by the victim and returned. The victim also noted that Orell had been riding horses on occasion at the Bagdad Corrals until a week before the burglary occurred and was familiar with the tack room and its contents.
It gets better, on February 10, 2014, Orell came to the Sheriff’s substation in Bagdad to inquire about a ride-a-long. The investigating deputy contacted Orell who initially denied any involvement. After learning some details about his actions from the investigation, Orell told the deputy a Wilhoit resident, whom he refused to identify, gave him the saddles and tack. Orell did admit he tried to sell one of the saddles previously to a tack dealer in Prescott, but the dealer refused because it matched the description of a saddle pictured in a stolen property notice.
Orell was booked at Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Theft and Trafficking in Stolen Property. He has since been released on a $5000 bond.