JONES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Stolen utilities, filthy conditions, DFACS call – this case has it all
The subject of two arrest warrants for aggravated assault has temporarily eluded law enforcement, but a four-county theft ring was taken down and three offenders were taken into custody in the process.
Adam Harlan Sindell is wanted for aggravated assault in two cases, and law enforcement is asking for help in locating him. Information can be provided by calling the Jones County Sheriff’s Office at 478-986-3489 or anonymously by using the JCSO smartphone app.
As a result of the search for Sindell, Frederick Lyman Rahn, 46, was arrested Jan. 24 and charged with aggravated assault (family violence), party to a crime, three counts of theft by receiving stolen property (felony) and two counts of theft of services.
Neila Danielle Lavender, 40, was arrested Jan. 23 and charged with criminal damage to property in the second degree, and Seth Clinton Arnold faces charges in multiple counties in relation to multiple thefts and a Jan. 24 chase with law enforcement agencies.
The saga begins with a Jan. 2 report by JCSO Deputy Ayla Morris that stated she was dispatched to a home on Highway 57 for subject removal. She said she recognized Gregory Bass and confirmed he had three outstanding warrants. The property owner said he called law enforcement because he knew Bass was wanted and did not want him at the residence.
The deputy said in the process of taking Bass into custody, she noticed a bleeding wound on the rear left side of his head. Bass told her he was hit in the head by Sindell, and his story was confirmed by other witnesses. She said EMS was called to check out the injury.
Morris said she attempted to contact Sindell, who lived next door, but he was not found. The deputy secured a warrant for Sindell for aggravated assault.
A Jan. 23 report by JCSO Deputy Nolan Sullivan said he was dispatched to a Masseyville Road address at approximately 8 a.m. in reference to a suspicious incident. He said he was told by the complainant that he encountered two subjects riding down the road on a Kubota side-byside that he suspected of stealing property.
The complainant said when he approached the subjects to ask what they were doing, the driver attempted to run over him and drove off after hitting him. The victim took a picture of the offender, which he shared with Sullivan. He said the driver was identified as Sindell.
The deputy said a warrant was secured for Sindell for the charge of aggravated assault.
A second Jan. 23 report by Sullivan states that he, Lt. Wesley Ransom, Corp. Jeff Sullivan and Deputy Joseph Caldwell went to Sindell’s home at 11:40 a.m. to serve the aggravated assault warrants.
Sullivan said the officers were unable to locate the offender. He said Ransom made contact with Lavender and Rahn in a mobile home behind the residence. A check of Lavender showed she had an active warrant in Jones County, and she was taken into custody.
Sullivan said the officers found several trailers on the property and started running the plates through dispatch. He said the first two trailers came back as stolen out of Bibb County, and a U-Haul trailer found later was also reported as stolen in Bibb County.
Sullivan said JCSO Investigator Crystal Murphy obtained a search warrant for the residence and surrounding property. He said, during a search of the residence, a mother and two children were found living in filth, with no working heat, except for plug-in heaters, nor running water.
The deputy said mold covered the ceiling in one room, and the floor was caved in. He said the Department of Family and Children Services was called to respond.
Sullivan said they started running serial numbers of power tools and equipment found on the property, but nothing else returned as stolen. He said, however, it was discovered that the residence was being powered by stolen electricity from a powerline, and water was being stolen from a county fire hydrant.
The deputy said Bibb County Investigator Shaun Bridger arrived and confirmed the trailers were stolen out of Bibb County. He said DFCS also arrived and was able to get the mother and children to a safe location.
Sullivan said water and power company personnel came to the residence and confirmed that the utilities were being stolen.
Additional warrants were secured for Sindell for theft of services and receiving stolen property, and warrants were also secured for Rhan for being a party to the crime of aggravated assault, theft of services and receiving stolen property.
A Jan. 26 Facebook post by Sheriff Butch Reece stated it was determined the primary residents at the house were Sindell and Rahn.
He said as the investigation continued into the stolen property, it was discovered a third male, Seth Clinton Arnold, was involved.
“The theft ring was discovered to be much larger than Jones and Bibb counties and would also include Twiggs and Wilkinson counties,” Reece said.
He said deputies from all four agencies went to Arnold’s residence in Bibb County because of several outstanding warrants.
“As the deputies were pulling up to the residence, Arnold was leaving in a van. Deputies attempted to stop Arnold, but he fled in the van, leading deputies on a chase all the way to Wilkinson County. Arnold was finally stopped near the Irwinton city limits and taken into custody. Arnold faces charges in multiple counties in relation to the thefts and the chase.”
The sheriff said the next morning, Rahn was spotted in the Highway 57 area and was taken into custody without incident for his outstanding warrants.
Reece thanked all the agencies involved in the arrests for their hard work.
“It is nice to be able to work together to make all our communities safer,” he said.
