Two Men Arrested on Grain Theft Charges

Two Lawrence County men have been arrested in connection with grain thefts in Jasper County.

Jasper County State's Attorney Chad Miller Friday said 47-year-old Dennis Thacker, Jr. of Sumner has been arrested in connection with a theft of soybeans from Total Grain Management in Willow Hill on December 4, 2015. Thacker and 53-year-old John P. York of Sumner have both been arrested in connection with an attempted theft from the same facility on March 6. Both men were arrested that same day.

Thacker has been charged with a four-count information including unlawful possession of a converted vehicle and concealment of the identity of a vehicle, associated with his alleged possession and use of a stolen semi tractor in the theft and attempted theft in Willow Hill. Both are Class 2 felonies punishable by up to three to seven years in prison. Thacker is also charged with the December theft of soybeans from TGM, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to two to five years in prison. The offense is a Class 3 felony based on the value of the soybeans stolen. Thacker is also charged with obstructing justice for allegedly furnishing false information to investigators. Bond for Thacker has been set at $200,000.

York is charged with possession of burglary tools, a Class 4 felony punishable by up to one to three years in prison. He's accused of possessing tools designed for cutting, which it is alleged would have been used in the theft of soybeans, items found inside his pickup truck. He is also charged with the attempted theft of soybeans Sunday, which is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail. His pickup truck has been seized by law enforcement, and Miller has started the process under which York would have to forfeit the vehicle. Bond for York has been set at $25,000.

Further investigation continues with investigators and law enforcement officers looking into grain thefts in Crawford County, allegedly committed by Thacker and York. A trucking business and car dealership owned by Thacker in Lawrence County is also under investigation.

Miller commended "the hard work and investigation by the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, Crawford County Sheriff's Department, Illinois State Police and Illinois Secretary of State Police" on the case. Miller said, "In our rural community, reliant on agriculture, full of hard-working farmers, thefts of this nature are particularly concerning and will not be tolerated."