Jasper County Sheriff’s Office arrests 2 individuals for mail theft in rural Newton

Two individuals have been arrested and charged with numerous crimes that stem from reports of mail theft in rural Newton, and unauthorized use of credit cards and checks at various banks and businesses. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office tracked down the suspects, who attempted to flee when questioned by a deputy.

According to a Jan. 23 press release from the sheriff’s office, a deputy spotted the male suspect, 32-year-old John Davis, and the female suspect, 30-year-old Lauren Parkison, inside a vehicle at an apartment complex in Newton. The deputy stopped to speak with them when Davis took off on foot.

Parkison was detained by the deputy, who followed Davis to an apartment where he was taken into custody. A search warrant was conducted on the apartment associated with Davis and Parkison; two vehicles were seized pending search warrants. The arrests were a result of an investigation from earlier this month.

The sheriff’s office received reports of mail theft from rural Newton residences. As a result of the theft, victims reported credit cards and checks were being used at many banks and businesses. The investigation was able to identify a male suspect and a female suspect and the vehicles used.

The investigation is ongoing. The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Newton Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Both Davis and Parkison had no-contact orders placed on each other. The sheriff’s office had video evidence of the two working together and using what they had allegedly stolen. Jasper County Sheriff Brad Shutts said the deputy who would confront and arrest the duo developed a strong case.

“He spotted them because we had some pictures of vehicles and things like that,” Shutts said in a follow-up interview with Newton News. “He was on patrol and came about the vehicle … He came across them and then he took them down. Great work by him and we’re happy with the outcome.”

Shutts said Davis and Parkison had outstanding felony charges from California for similar crimes. Upon a search warrant of the apartment, authorities also found marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Shutts said the alleged crimes committed by Davis and Parkison are not isolated to Jasper County.

“We anticipate more agencies having charges,” he said.

The sheriff’s office arrested Davis with the following charges:

• Violation of no-contact order (simple misdemeanor)

• Conspiracy (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Third-degree theft (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Fifth-degree theft (simple misdemeanor)

• Unauthorized use of credit card, six counts (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Identity theft of less than $1,500, six counts (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Identity theft of more than $1,500-$10,000 (class D felony)

• Forgery (class D felony)

• Interference (simple misdemeanor)

• Possession of controlled substance (serious misdemeanor)

• Possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor)

• Possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)

• False ID (simple misdemeanor)

The sheriff’s office arrested Parkison with the following charges:

• Violation of no-contact order (simple misdemeanor)

• Conspiracy (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Second-degree theft (class D felony)

• Third-degree theft, two counts (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Fourth-degree theft (serious misdemeanor)

• Fifth-degree theft (simple misdemeanor)

• Unauthorized use of credit card, six counts (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Identity theft of less than $1,500, seven counts (aggravated misdemeanor)

• Identity theft of more than $1,500-$10,000, two counts (class D felony)

• Forgery, four counts (class D felony)

• Interference (simple misdemeanor)

• Possession of controlled substance (serious misdemeanor)

• Possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor)

• Possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)