Staff Report

Morgan Marie Lockhart

Jessie Brent Haradon

WARSAW — Two local people were arrested after allegedly stealing a woman’s car and spray painting it to make it look different.

Morgan Marie Lockhart, 29, 4724 E. CR 1200N, Syracuse; and Jessie Brent Haradon, 39, 2605 E. Center St., Warsaw, are each charged with possession of methamphetamine and theft, both level 6 felonies; criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On July 2, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer went to a location regarding the theft of a vehicle and learned a black 2005 Nissan Sentra had been stolen overnight.

According to court documents, the woman said her vehicle’s key was previously stolen in another incident and that she believed Lockhart was the person who stole the key and her vehicle. She told the officer Lockhart had been spending time with Haradon and provided a possible location for where they could be.

While driving through the suggested area, the officer found the stolen vehicle. It appeared the vehicle had multiple decals removed and was spray-painted gray. Its license plate was also removed. The officer confirmed it was the stolen vehicle through its vehicle identification number. Haradon and Lockhart were in an area near the car at the time.

While speaking with the two, the officer noticed both of them had gray paint on their hands. Both Lockhart and Haradon denied knowledge of the vehicle and denied painting it. They were taken into custody at that time.

The officer searched the stolen vehicle and found several bags that North Webster Police officers said belonged to Haradon and Lockhart. Officers said the bags were with them during an unrelated traffic stop the night before. In the vehicle was a digital scale, paraphernalia, a bag containing a powder substance, and a large package of what appeared to be mushrooms.

Lockhart and Haradon have both been arrested and released on their own recognizance.