Hunter
04/11/23
An Iowa City man with numerous theft charges has been charged in conjunction with a number of utility vehicle burglaries late last year.
Police were called to 480th Street Southwest the morning of December 6th on the report of a burglary, where several utility vehicles were broken into. Numerous items were reportedly taken, including a GPS tablet that was found by workers in the area. Officers noted blood on the tablet, and sent a sample to the Department of Criminal Investigation lab for analysis.
Results linked the DNA from the tablet to 40-year-old Joshua Kelley of Friendship Street. He was arrested Monday and charged with 3rd degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by a jail term of up to two years if convicted.
Police had recent contact with Kelley, conducting a search warrant on January 20th where they seized his 2016 Chrysler Town and Country.
During a search of the vehicle, it was discovered that Kelly replaced his front bumper and grill with that of a 2011 Caravan he allegedly took sometime between December 30th and January 3rd. Numerous tools and equipment, including the victim’s, was also found inside Kelley’s van. He faces numerous charges stemming from that incident. A case management conference is scheduled for April 21st, with trial set for June 6th.