An Arkansas man charged in Taney County in connection with an alleged multi-state theft ring is scheduled to appear in court June 5 for a preliminary hearing.

Twenty-five year old Edward Arnold of Western Grove is charged with felony stealing following the recovery of numerous items from locations in Arkansas and Oklahoma.   Items including vehicles, trailers, tailgates, tires and wheels were reported stolen last year in Taney County and other jurisdictions.

Also charged in connection with the crimes is 35-year old Jason Sears of Omaha, Arkansas, who is due in court this week for a hearing, and 46-year old Sheila Kelley of Branson, who has a hearing set for later this month. 

The charges followed a Stone County pursuit in late December during which Sears was apprehended in a truck which had been reported stolen.  Sears was linked by investigators with an arson fire in Eureka Springs, which occurred next door to a motel owned by Richard Basnett of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Many of the stolen items were found at that motel, as well as at Basnett’s home and other locations in Tahlequah. 

Basnett is awaiting sentencing in Oklahoma after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge.