VCSO: Evansville man arrested on charges of theft, conspiracy

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - An Evansville man is under arrest on charges of theft and conspiracy.

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office says that back on March 28th, a 2000 Dutchman Model TL recreational vehicle, bearing Indiana plates was stolen around 4:30 a.m. from the Sinclair gas station along U.S. 41 in Henderson.

Later that afternoon around 1:00 p.m., the RV was seen on a Flock traffic camera travelling westbound on the Lloyd Expressway at Wabash Avenue. Then about 10 minutes later, security camera video provided by a resident on South Red Bank Road, shows the RV being pulled by a black Chevy pickup truck with a white male seen in the driver side seat.

The truck and RV are seen on camera driving into the driveway of a home on Red Bank Road to the home of Ryan Hart and Kristyna Nutter.

Ryan is the registered owner of a black, 2005 Chevy Silverado with Indiana Plates. On April second, Vanderburgh County Sheriff`s Office Deputies were contacted by the victim, who was informed by a tip from a Facebook post that the RV may be located in the 2300 block of South Red Bank Road.

Deputies were unable to locate the RV on the property and did not make contact with any of the homeowners. On April 14th, VCSO Deputies returned to the home. The victim received another Facebook tip suggesting the RV was still at the property.

Deputies were able to speak to Kristyna Nutter. Kristyna stated she had seen the camper on an undetermined day a few weeks ago. Kristyna claimed her husband allowed Joseph Desper to borrow his truck. When Desper returned with the truck, he was towing the RV.

Kristyna said she was unsure how long the RV stayed on the South Red Bank property, but believed it was there for less than 24 hours. During the interview, Kristyna was able to contact Ryan Hart on the phone, Ryan said he believed the RV stayed on the property for possibly a day or two, but was transported to Joseph White`s residence in the 6000 block of North Saint Joseph Avenue.

Both Ryan and Kristyna claimed they asked Desper to remove the RV from the property after being shown a falsified bill of sale. Kristyna stated Desper routinely does things like falsify documents and did not want the RV at the property.

Kristyna stated the RV was towed by Joseph Desper in black Ford F-150 that she believed was owned by Christopher Peach.

On April 19th, authorities conducted an interview of Christopher Peach in the Vanderburgh County Jail. Peach stated he and his girlfriend, Jessica Zint, own a black F-150 bearing Indiana Plates. Peach stated on an unknown date, they allowed Cody Simmons and Joesph Desper to borrow Jessica`s truck for the day.

Christopher stated he was unaware of what they used the truck for. A Flock camera located on North St. Joseph Avenue and Mill Road observed Jessica`s truck traveling southbound around 3:30 a.m. on March 31st.

Christopher explained that Cody Simmons was currently living with him at a home on Bayard Park, but was previously living with Joseph Desper at Ryan Hart`s property.

Chirstopher stated Joseph Desper later approached Jessica Zint asking for help with renovating an RV. At an undetermined time later, Christopher retold he observed Joseph Desper and Cody Simmons laughing over a Facebook post regarding the stolen RV. Christopher stated he heard them joke over the RV in the post seeming “familiar”.

Authorities spoke with Jessica at her residence on April 19th. Jessica confirmed she allowed Cody Simmons and Joseph Desper to borrow her truck on an undetermined date.

Jessica said her truck did not have hitch when Joseph Desper took the truck, but had a hitch when it returned. Jessica continued by saying she was asked by Desper to help renovate an RV, she never did any work, except providing Desper with a few gallons of paint, including white paint.

Jessica claimed at later date, she went to a home in the 6000 block of North Saint Joseph Road with Joseph Desper in her truck. Jessica said she assisted Desper with moving items from the RV into her truck.

Jessica said she helped move a TV, a mattress, folding chairs, a pinata-style children`s item, a mirror, a bike helmet, a large pig-shaped piggy bank, and cookware items.

Jessica said they took these items to Ryan Hart`s property on South Red Bank Road. Jessica said she unloaded the items into a lean-to on the west side of property next to another RV.

During a later interview of April 20th, Jessica stated she did not realize the RV was stolen because Desper held her to believe the items inside belonged to him.

A Flock camera located on North St. Joseph Avenue and Mill Road observed Jessica`s truck traveling south around 11:00 p.m. on April 6th.

Jessica stated the RV located on Ryan Hart`s property is the residence of Joseph Desper. After unloading the items, Jessica said Joseph gave her a tour of the property, which consisted of three lots.

There were two single family residences and three RVs as well as an area in the woods behind the residence on South Red Bank Road.

On April 15th, VCSO Deputies recovered the RV in the 6000 block of North Saint Joseph Road. The victim received another Facebook notification informing him the RV was there. The victim came on scene to recover the vehicle and noted the following items stolen; two propane tanks, one 40-inch flat screen television, one 60-inch flat screen television, a Blue Ray player, a Bose-branded stereo system, cookware and dishes, a hot iron steak cooker, one 12-volt water pump, fishing, camping, and hiking gear, two 12 volt batteries and a power inverter.

On April 19th, authorities followed up with the victim via telephone. Rocky described the items that were stolen and alterations that were made to the RV.

Rocky also texted corresponding photographs that he took today. The VIN plate was removed, a battery and converter box affixed to the exterior was removed, propane tanks were removed from the exterior, and the license plate was removed.

The “Dutchman” branded logos were painted over with white paint. A “Brookside” branded logo was placed over the piece of sheet metal on the front of the RV that was originally placed by the victim to cover storm damage.

A sticker that displayed model number was completely scrapped off as well. The victim shared photographs of the missing folding chairs, a children`s trampoline, the steak grill, and one of the televisions.

Cody Simmons is currently in the Vanderburgh County Jail since April 15th for Felony PTR Warrant. On April 19th, authorities attempted to interview Cody Simmons, but Simmons refused to answer questions.

On April 18th, Deputies returned to the 2300 block of South Red Bank Road to speak to Ryan Hart, but Hart was not home and did not return messages.

On April 23rd, at approximately 1:00 p.m., VCSO Deputies executed a judicially authorized search at a home in the 6000 block of North Saint Joseph Road. 39-year-old Joseph White of Evansville was present at the time and taken into custody.

In a post-Miranda interview. White explained Desper arrived unannounced in a black early-2000s style Ford F-150 with the RV. White stated Desper asked to keep the RV at White`s house for a few days as they made space for it at Ryan Hart`s house.

White stated the altercations done to the trailer must have been completed prior to the RV`s arrival in the 6000 block of North Saint Joseph Road because he did not witness any of it at his house. White stated Desper did come back multiple times to move items out of the RV and into a pickup truck.

White said he believed one pick up truck was the black Ford F-150 and another was an unidentified green truck. White did witness Desper move the TVs and mattress out of the RV but did not assist.

White explained he never realized the RV was stolen until the day of the recovery, April 15th. On that date, White explained Desper arrived and told him he contacted the victim to return the trailer and law enforcement would likely arrive as well. Desper departed prior to law enforcement or the victim arrived.