The home the tools were taken from, at 15768 South County Road 209, is owned by Timothy Lynn King, 49, who is a registered sex offender and most likely was thought by the three men to be absent from the property and in jail at the time of the looting, said Jackson County Sheriff Roger LeVick.
The three men were arrested, and all but a couple of the stolen tools were recovered in short time, after Sheriff's Deputies Johnathon Foster and Joe Everhart responded to the call around 1 p.m.
Steven Edral Cullum, 30, Christopher James Easley, 26, and Jerry Ray Welch, 29, were booked into jail at around 5 p.m. Cullum, who is charged with second degree burglary, property destruction and receiving stolen property, and Welch, who is charged with entering a building with intent to commit felony/ larceny/malicious mischief, have been released on bonds of $5,000 each.
Easley remains jailed under a bond of $15,000 on charges of second degree burglary and receiving stolen property.
A classified advertisement in the Altus Times announces the giveaway of sheet metal, barrels, tools, appliances, etc., at 15766 S. County Road 209, the house next to King's and the former home of the 13-year-old boy King was found guilty of sexually molesting during 2004 and 2005.
Apparently, LeVick said, the three men arrested were assured that King was not at home at the time and they picked out the property as an easy target because they figured King was in jail.
Some of the stolen tools were recovered at an apartment in Altus, LeVick said, adding that a warrant for arrest has been requested on yet another man suspected in the crime.
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