TACOMA, WA – Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Dayin Rex Henry, 34, and Shane Bryant Sweetman, 33, with multiple counts of possession of stolen property and trafficking stolen property. While serving a search warrant at the defendants’ residence in Graham, Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies located stolen trailers, ATV’s, vehicles and tools. The defendants pleaded not guilty and are being held in lieu of $40,000 bail.
On Jan. 24, 2016, deputies responded to the residence and located stolen property including two trailers, two ATV’s and a pickup truck. Yesterday, deputies returned to the residence and served a search warrant with assistance from the department’s newly-formed Proactive Property Crimes Unit. Inside a large shop, deputies located additional stolen property including three trailers, three ATV’s, a tractor, wheels and tools.
One of the defendants told detectives that they searched the Graham area for trailers during the day, and then returned at night to steal them. They sold some of the stolen property on OfferUp, an internet marketplace similar to Craigslist.
“We are successfully reducing burglaries and other property crimes by focusing resources,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “I encourage people to report these crimes so they can be investigated and prosecuted.”
The Pierce County Council voted unanimously to fund a Sheriff’s Department Proactive Property Crimes Unit in 2016. The Prosecutor’s Office also received funds for prosecuting the additional cases that will arise. This new unit is working to lower the number of burglaries and increase the percentage of reports that are investigated.
Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Songer
Communications and Public Information Coordinator
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
253-798-6265
253-380-5856
[email protected]