Mark R. Johnson

WARSAW — A second individual, Mark R. Johnson, 55, 58640 CR 31, Goshen, was arrested early today, March 30, in connection with the theft of a Bobcat from Jerry Honorable, and John Deere Gator owned by Cheryl Mehlberg.

Russell Weldon Leach, 46, 2109 S. Main St., Goshen, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail Monday, March 28, in connection with the thefts. He is being charged with aiding, inducing or causing burglary, a level 4 felony; two counts of theft, a level 6 felony; and making false sales documents, also a level 6 felony.

Charges of theft, a level 6 felony, filed March 28, state Johnson knowingly or intentionally exerted unauthorized control over a Bobcat skid loader, owned by Jerry Honorable. Honorable reported the skid loader stolen on Dec. 31, to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy James Marshall was contacted by John Breading to have a VIN check on a Bobcat skid loader. When the VIN check was made on the Bobcat, it was learned the the skid loader was stolen. Breading told police he had purchased the skid loader and a Gator on March 12, at the residence of William Harr. The items were purchased from Leach. A bill of sale was provided, which included the VIN numbers of both vehicles.

During the investigation it was found between December and January, Johnson came to the Harr property with a single axle dump truck and the Bobcat skid loader on a trailer. The items were left at the Harr residence.

When police spoke with Leach, he produced two bills of sale dated March 13 indicating Johnson was the seller and Leach was the purchaser of both the Bobcat and Gator. Police noticed dates on the bill of sale were before the items were reported stolen and upon confronting Leach, he admitted he had manufactured the bills of sale and signed Johnson’s name.

Police learned Johnson dropped the skid loader off at Harr’s residence and Leach had agreed to purchase the skid loader for $2,000. He then sold the skid loader to John Breading for $3,000.

Related: Leach Arrested In Connection To John Deere Gator Theft