Local couple charged in connection to theft ring.

Boyette and Edwards

Local couple charged in connection to theft ring.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

SHELBY — A local couple have been charged in connection to several break-ins that occurred over the summer after police recovered tens of thousands of dollars of stolen property.

Phillip Arthur Boyette, 37, whose address is listed as 104 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, was arrested last week after Oceana County sheriff’s deputies spotted him at the Dollar General store in Shelby, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

According to 78th District Court records, Boyette is charged in six separate files. He faces felony charges of first-degree home invasion; felony firearm; larceny $1,000-$20,000; two counts of breaking and entering a building with intent; and two counts of methamphetamine possession (one of the charges stems from a 2018 incident). He is also charged with misdemeanors of marijuana possession, improper license and unlawful use of a license plate stemming from a 2018 case. His highest bond amount was set at $25,000/cash/surety. 

Boyette’s accomplice and wife, Martha Rochelle Edwards, 35, whose address is listed as 8879 20th St., Twin Lake, is charged with breaking and entering a building with intent. More charges are pending. The pair are among half a dozen suspects arrested in connection to the theft ring.

Officers recovered “tens of thousands of dollars worth of stolen property,” said Sheriff Mast. including ORVs, “high dollar” chainsaws, diagnostic tool kits, multiple power tools and hand tools. 

“We confiscated three different vehicles that were packed full of property,” he said, including merchandise from retail stores. “They were going into retail stores and filling coolers with merchandise, like watches, jewelry and hunting and fishing equipment, and would go through the self checkout.” The suspects would then ring up only the coolers but not the contents, he said. This was done at larger stores, such as Walmart in Fremont. One stolen item – a diagnostic automotive testing kit – is worth $8,000-$9,000, said Mast.

A traffic stop in Walkerville last June resulted in the identification of suspects. During the traffic stop, the deputy discovered that a Side-by-Side ORV being hauled on a trailer was reported stolen. 

The sheriff’s office worked with the Hart post of the Michigan State Police, Shelby Police Department and Newaygo County authorities because some of the crimes occurred in Newaygo County as well. 

Other suspects have been arrested in connection to the case:

Cross

David William Cross, 38, of 8968 US 10, Branch, is charged with first-degree home invasion, two counts of felony firearms, larceny $1,000-$20,000, breaking and entering with intent and receiving and concealing firearms. 

Cody Boyd Scheel, 33, of 8875 W. 13 Mile Rd., Walkerville, was arrested by the sheriff’s office for a felony of receiving and concealing stolen property $1,000-$20,000. Scheel was also charged with misdemeanors in a separate case of using/possessing flashing lights on a motor vehicle when he allegedly impersonated a police officer and pulled over a vehicle.

Scheel

Jason Alan Ennis, 34, of 5430 E. Arthur Rd., Hesperia, is charged with receiving and concealing firearms and felony firearms. 

Ennis

All of their cases have been bound over to circuit court. The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be pending, said Detective Mark Hiddema of the sheriff’s office.

A 37-year-old man from Twin Lake was arrested Thursday morning, Sept. 9, and is charged with breaking and entering in connection to the crime spree. He has not yet been arraigned in district court.

Any residents who were victims of the thefts should contact Det. Hiddema at the sheriff’s office at 231-873-2121 if they have not yet recovered their property or have not yet reported the crimes. 

“There was a lot of help from Shelby PD and MSP, along with a lot of work from our own department on following up with complaints after a months-long investigation,” said Det. Hiddema. 

Most of the break-ins occurred in residential outbuildings both at night and during the day, said the detective. Many of the buildings were locked, and a prying instrument was used to gain access. 

When Boyette was apprehended by deputies last week, he had 1 ½ grams of meth on him, said Mast. They found another 2 grams in his car, he said. 

Both Boyette and Edwards have probable cause hearings in district court Monday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m.

“There was a lot of work our guys put into it to get a resolution to these B&Es,” said Det. Hiddema.

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