Tag Archives: crime

Behnke Sentenced on Child Pornography Related Charges

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FLAGSTAFF — On December 20, 2016, 30 year-old Leroy Behnke was sentenced in Coconino County Superior Court Division 5 for charges related to child pornography. Behnke took a plea deal for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor for possession and distribution of child pornography. He was sentenced to 17 years in DOC, with lifetime probation and lifetime sex offender registration on his release.

On May 12, 2015 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agents contacted Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives regarding the possession and distribution of child pornography by an adult male who lived in the greater Flagstaff area. According to the FBI agents they developed information that caused them to believe that Leroy Behnke of Flagstaff was in possession of numerous images depicting young children and infants engaged in various sexual acts. They further believed that Behnke had obtained the images from several online chat rooms and then distributed the images to other online users.

On May 21, 2015 Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives, Deputies and FBI Agents served a search warrant on Behnke’s place of residence while he was at home. During the service of the search warrant, Behnke’s laptop computer was seized and he was interviewed by a Sheriff’s Detective and FBI agent. During the interview Behnke made statements that implicated him in numerous counts of possessing and exchanging child pornography images online. At that time, Behnke was arrested on 10 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Distribution and transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility where he was incarcerated.

This case is an example of the cooperative efforts between local and federal agencies in investigation, arrest and prosecution of suspects and criminal acts.

ADOT’s battle against ID theft extends beyond Arizona

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adot-badge_cropPHOENIX — Expertise and facial-recognition technology employed by Arizona Department of Transportation detectives safeguard the personal information of not only Arizonans but those in other states who are targeted by identity thieves here.

Two cases brought by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General highlight these efforts:

In September, detectives investigating fraud involving a motor vehicle record found that Robert Chalue of Surprise had been using the identity of a Maine resident for more than 15 years, resulting in the victim facing credit problems and traffic tickets that weren’t his. The investigation led detectives to Chalue’s home, where they apprehended him along with several identifying documents belonging to the victim. Chalue is facing multiple counts of forgery and identity theft.

In June, ADOT detectives determined that Terry Lee Rice of Phoenix stole the identity of a Georgia man and used it to obtain an Arizona identification card. Their investigation found that Rice used the stolen identity for years to hide from violent crimes committed in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida, where he faced an extraditable felony warrant. With the help of the Phoenix Police Department, ADOT detectives located Rice, who was booked for the felony warrant plus six additional felony counts related to fraudulently obtaining the Arizona credential.

Facial-recognition technology allows checks against customer records in the state’s driver license database, preventing fraudulent attempts to obtain driver licenses or identification cards. In addition to the work by ADOT detectives, customer service representatives in ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division are trained to detect forgery and fraud when they perform the first checks for discrepancies in application packets.

At least seven of the dozens of identity-theft cases brought this year by ADOT detectives have involved victims beyond Arizona.

“We know the value of keeping your identity intact, so we take identity theft seriously,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of ADOT’s Office of Inspector General. “Facial-recognition technology helps our detectives take identity thieves off the street and keep the identities of residents of Arizona and other states safe.”

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

Two Deaths Being Investigated as Murder Suicide

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Sheriff-Patch005On November 16, 2016 around 11:00 AM, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a request for a welfare check at a residence south of Twin Arrows. The reporting party advised dispatch that her co-worker had not shown up for work and was not answering the door.

Deputies responded and made forced entry. They located 55-year-old Mary Smeal and 57-year-old Jeffery Jones both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Information was not immediately released until next of kin could be notified. The case is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

The two deceased were in a domestic relationship. The reporting party had driven to the residence and found both Ms. Smeal’s and Mr. Jones’ vehicles in the driveway. She was unable to get anyone to answer the phone or the door. Evidence from the scene indicates that Mr. Jones shot Ms. Smeal and then shot himself.

No further details are available at this time; the case is still under investigation by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

ADOT detectives make undercover bust of unlicensed auto dealer

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PHOENIX — An undercover bust of a man accused of selling more than 100 vehicles without a dealer license is a reminder for buyers to be wary and do their homework.

Detectives with the Arizona Department of Transportation cited Daniel Miranda, 35, of Avondale after arranging for a detective to buy a vehicle advertised for sale. Their investigation revealed that Miranda had sold 124 vehicles in the last 11 months without a license. This is known as curbstoning.

State law allows an individual to sell no more than six vehicles in 12 consecutive months without a dealer’s license.

In addition to a citation for acting as a used vehicle dealer without a license, Miranda was cited for not having a business license. The penalty for selling more vehicles than allowed by an individual is between $1,000 and $3,000 per vehicle, so Miranda faces a minimum $118,000 in fines.

“Our detectives are very proactive when it comes to finding unlicensed dealers, protecting vehicle buyers and ensuring that vehicles are sold legally,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of ADOT’s Office of Inspector General.

After citing Miranda, ADOT detectives requested a hearing at the ADOT Executive Hearing Office to establish a penalty. Miranda will also face a court hearing since the citations are criminal charges.

ADOT urges those looking to purchase used vehicles to be diligent and ask lots of questions. Also consider completing the transaction at a Motor Vehicle Division office or Authorized Third Party business, where employees can check the vehicle title for liens and confirm the vehicle identification number.

ADOT’s Office of the Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

Thief compromises Bert Fire operations and public safety

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image013VALLE — On Tuesday morning a firefighter assigned to the Bert Fire on the Kaibab National Forest discovered the theft of essential emergency safety equipment taken from the scene of the Bert Fire southeast of Valle, Arizona.

Sometime during the night hours of Monday June 6, an electronic safety message sign that was placed on highway 180 was vandalized and multiple power batteries were stolen from inside of the unit. The sign board which displayed illuminated safety messages for travelers was rendered inoperable. The messages were designed to alert drivers of approaching hazardous conditions including smoke and fire personnel working in the area.

Officials would like to remind the public of the importance of safety when conduction fire operations that are near or within rural areas and adjacent to busy highway corridors. These types of careless actions can elevate danger and reduce the ability to provide for public safety of both firefighters and motorists. U.S. Forest Service law enforcement is currently working with the Coconino County Sheriff’s office and would encourage anyone with information related to this crime to contact the sheriff’s office at 928-774-4523 or USFS Law Enforcement at 928-635-5642.

Four Individuals Indicted on Charges for Death of 6-Year-Old Boy

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ash-fork-1ASH FORK — On June 6, 2016 four people were arraigned in Coconino County Superior Court following a May 25, 2016 Grand Jury indictment for the death of six-year-old, Jason Hester. The indictment came after a nearly year-long investigation into the boy’s death by Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives.

On June 22, 2015 the boy was found unresponsive in the home of his aunt and primary caretaker, Lillian Hester. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Kaibab Estates Fire personnel responded and attempted lifesaving efforts but were unsuccessful in reviving the boy. The boy was pronounced deceased later that day at Flagstaff Medical Center.

An autopsy was performed by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. The official cause of death was undetermined, but there were multiple findings suspicious of child neglect. The boy weighed 29 pounds at the time of the autopsy and showed signs of dehydration, multiple bruises and abrasions.

Indicted were:
37-year-old, Lillian Hester (aunt, primary caretaker) – indicted on first degree murder and child abuse
64-year-old, Lenda Hester (maternal grandmother) – indicted on negligent homicide and child abuse
61-year-old, Kimmy Wilson (boyfriend of Lenda) – indicted on negligent homicide and child abuse
36-year-old, Jason Conlee (live-in boyfriend of Lillian) – indicted on negligent homicide and child abuse

All four individuals are residents of an unincorporated area of Coconino County, north of Ashfork, AZ.

Man Booked on Two Counts of attempted Homicide, Second Degree

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300-larry-mcgowanVALLE — 67-year-old Larry Thomas McGowan was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility today on two counts of attempted homicide.

On Friday, May 27 around 5:15 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic assault in progress at a residence in Valle, AZ. The suspect left the residence on foot prior to arrival of the deputies.

The victim sustained multiple injuries from being struck with a baseball bat, and she was air lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center. The victim reported that in defense she fired two shots at the suspect. It was later determined that neither shot hit the suspect. An additional witness / victim also sustained injuries during an attempt to report the crime.

Deputies and a K9 Unit searched for the suspect for approximately two hours on the evening of the incident. They tracked him to a location approximated 1/2 – 1/4 mile from the residence. When they located him, the suspect had several stab wounds which are still under investigation. He was air lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center for his injuries.

This case is currently under continued investigation.

Woman Returns Home to Find Burglar Exiting her House

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On Thursday, April 14, 2016 at about 3:39 pm 911 dispatchers received a call from a woman who reported a burglary in progress at her home located off of Mount Elden Lookout Road. Upon their arrival responding Deputies made contact with the caller and checked her for injuries. They learned that the victim was not assaulted by the suspect and she was uninjured.

According to the victim she returned home exited her vehicle and observed an adult male as he was leaving her house. She confronted the individual and asked him what he was doing. The suspect who was carrying food items and bottled alcohol apologized and said his car had broken down and asked if he could take one of her vehicles to which the victim said no. The suspect left the area on foot to the west of the residence into a wooded area.

The on-duty Patrol Sergeant began to search the area for the suspect and spoke with several hikers and bikers in the area. Several of the subjects the Sergeant spoke with said they saw a man matching the suspect’s description in a vehicle that was stopped on Schultz Pass Road. The Sergeant went to that area and observed a vehicle alongside the road. He made contact with the driver who was identified as 26 year-old Arthur Zampini originally from Glendale, AZ but currently homeless and transient. Mr. Zampini was similar in appearance to the description of the suspect provided by the victim. Upon questioning Zampini admitted to the burglary and also admitted to driving two of the victim’s vehicles away from the residence only to return them. When asked why he drove the vehicles he replied because they were cool.

After inventorying her home the victim reported that cash, miscellaneous food items and bottled alcohol were missing. Arthur Zampini was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for one count of second degree burglary, one count of first degree trespass, two counts of unauthorized use of motor vehicle, and one count of cultivation of marijuana.

Person Arrested in Home Invasion

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FLAGSTAFF/DONEY PARK — On Monday, March 28, 2016 at about 4:49 pm an adult female who resides at a residence located on Winchester Drive in Doney Park reported a suspicious person. According to the caller a male approached her in her garage saying he needed help. He told her that people were after him and then he ran away from the property. Due to his physical appearance and his actions the believed the subject was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

At about 4:52 pm a second adult female who lives in the same area as the first caller reported someone was trying to break through the backdoor of her home. She observed the subject at the back door hitting the door and yelling “people were trying to get him”. She said the subject went to another backdoor, she then locked herself in her bedroom and called 911.

The subject broke through the second door entering the home yelling “people are after me”, he then grabbed a kitchen knife and exited the front door.

The second caller’s husband, returned home and parked his vehicle in the driveway, when the subject exited the home and approached him. According to the victim’s husband the subject held a knife walking toward him saying “people are after me”. He said the subject appeared to be paranoid as he was continuously looking over his shoulder. As the husband stepped out of his vehicle the suspect who was approximately 15 feet away from him dropped the knife. The suspect then crouched in front of the vehicle in an attempt to conceal himself. The husband stepped on the knife and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer arrived and arrested the suspect.

The subject was identified as 18 year old Sanjahsee Begay and was transported to the Coconino County Detention Facility where he was incarcerated on one count of First Degree Trespass (Felony), one count of Felony Criminal Damage, one count of Second Degree Burglary (Felony), and one count of Disorderly Conduct (Misdemeanor).

Two Flagstaff Men Arrested for Vehicle Burglaries in Doney Park

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hankins-peavy-1Flagstaff, AZ — During the early morning hours of Sunday, January 3, 2016 Dispatchers of the Flagstaff Regional 911 Center received multiple calls from concerned citizens regarding suspicious activity and reckless driving by a vehicle and its occupants. One caller reported seeing the vehicle enter the driveway of his home located in Doney Park and then slowly back out. The reporting citizen attempted to follow the vehicle; however he lost sight of it. The investigating Deputy put out an attempt to locate message with the vehicle description.

Later that day Flagstaff Police Officers located the vehicle which was occupied by two adult males. The officers arrested the men on unrelated charges.

During the investigation, a wallet was located in the vehicle with identification that did not belong to either occupant. The Deputy contacted the person listed on the identification who lived in the Doney Park area. According to this person his wallet was last known to be inside his vehicle. The Deputy and the victim checked his vehicles that were in front of his home and discovered that two of them had been burglarized.

Twenty-one year-old Samuel David Hankins and twenty year-old Scott Julian Peavy both of Flagstaff were charged with two counts each of burglary from a vehicle. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing this investigation in an effort to determine if the two suspects are involved in other burglaries that have occurred in the area.