LAFAYETTE COUNTY—A Darlington man who allegedly stole several items from locations in Green and Lafayette counties over the last few years was apprehended.
According to a report from Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley, a detective of the sheriff’s department arrested Steven B. DeVoe, 41 of Darlington, on Nov. 10. DeVoe was taken into custody in the city of Darlington on allegations of several felony thefts and burglaries reported to law enforcement since 2007.
DeVoe has been charged with a Class G felony of theft of moveable property valued at more than $10,000, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000. DeVoe was scheduled to appear in the Lafayette County Circuit Court for a bail/bond hearing on Nov. 15.
Patrol sergeant Daric Heim reported on Nov. 9 that he observed DeVoe’s vehicle pulling a trailer with a skid steer loader on it and the next day the sheriff’s department received a report of a stolen skid steer. A citizen witness also helped tie DeVoe to the stolen skid steer.
As a result of the arrest, items reported stolen from various locations in Lafayette County, including two skid steer loaders, one ATV, one riding lawnmower, one trailer and several hand tools, were recovered from DeVoe’s home as well as several locations in rural Darlington and Grant and Dane counties. Many items from Green County were also recovered, including two trailers, two ATVs, one motorcycle and one riding lawn tractor.
Pedley said some of the stolen items were sold via the Internet. Detectives are following trails to additional stolen property sold by DeVoe.
“The knowing possession of stolen property by citizens is a crime and it is what we are dealing with here,” Pedley said.
DeVoe remains in custody at the Lafayette County Jail.
Pedley encourges anyone in the region who purchased property from DeVoe in the last three years to contact Det. Jerrett Cook of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department at (608) 776-4870.
The case remains under investigation.