Central Oregonian

Burglary suspects arrested

Jason Chaney

February 01, 2013

Four Prineville residents were taken into custody late last month in connection with a large-scale burglary that took place at Quail Valley Ranch.

On Jan. 10, 2013 the Crook County Sheriff's Office responded to the Quail Valley Ranch located at 9199 S.W. Crooked River Highway, in Prineville, to investigate a burglary and theft of motor vehicles. The burglary was reported by the ranch manager, Kurt Lockhart.

Deputies discovered during the investigation that a red 2000 Hummer, along with two Polaris ATV'S, a car trailer and an extensive amount of personal property had been stolen from the residence. The investigation revealed that the indoor arena and show barn had also been broke into and the suspects attempted to remove horse tack and other items.

The next day, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office recovered the stolen Hummer in Metolius, Ore., parked at the Metolius Middle School.

On Jan. 20, the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office investigated a burglary in progress at the Bear Creek Ranch, and arrested Prineville residents Lucas Bechtel, 32, Kenneth Kime, 30, and Cheyenne Adams, 20, at the scene. They also recovered two Polaris four-wheelers used by the suspects at the same location, which turned out to be the two reported stolen four-wheelers from the Quail Valley Ranch. The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office arrested

Three days after the arrest, the Crook County Sheriff's Office served four search warrants on the stolen property and DNA for Betchel, Kime and Adams at the NORCOR Adult Correctional Facility in the Dalles, Ore., where they were being held on the Wheeler County charges. The fourth search warrant was served on the Truck of Bechtel where it was currently being held by the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office.

On Jan. 24, the Crook County Sheriff's Office along with the Prineville Police Department served a a fifth search warrant on a Northeast Sixth Street home where Bechtel resides. During that search, deputies recovered more stolen items from the Quail Valley Ranch burglary and arrested Chelsea Casteel, age 29 of Prineville.

Bechtel, Kime and Casteel are in custody in Crook County and currently being charged with one count each for Burglary in the First Degree, two counts each for Burglary in the Second Degree, three counts each for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and three counts each for Theft in the First Degree.