Thorough police work helps send thief to prison
Joshua Hood was sentenced last week to ten years in prison.
June 17, 2021
According to a press release issued by the Stone County Prosecutor’s Office last week, Joshua Hood, 32, of Sarcoxie, Missouri, was sentenced to ten years in prison last week on charges of tampering with a motor vehicle.
Prosecutor Matt Selby stated that on April 10, 2021, Reeds Spring Police Officer Colman stopped a vehicle in Reeds Spring for not having a license plate. At first, the driver, who was identified as Joshua Hood, stated that he had just purchased the car with his stimulus check. When the officer asked him for his registration and insurance, Hood then said that he had just rented the car. That prompted Officer Colman to ask for a copy of the rental agreement, which led Hood to state that he had actually just borrowed the car from a friend. However, upon further questioning by the officer, Hood and the passenger could not agree on the “friends” name.
Officer Colman had Stone County dispatch check the status of Hood’s driver’s license and the vehicle identification number on the vehicle. It was determined that Hood’s license was suspended and that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Springfield six days prior. Colman had Hood exit the vehicle, explained that the car had been reported stolen, and Hood exclaimed that he couldn’t believe that his friend would do something like that to him. Hood also said that he had recently got out of prison, and this would make him go back.
After being placed under arrest by Colman and read his Miranda rights, Hood said in more detail that he was at a friend’s house and asked for a ride. The friend told him that he didn’t have time to take Hood anywhere but that he could just borrow his car. Colman took Hood to the Stone County jail, booked him, but didn’t stop there. He then contacted the vehicle owner, who told the officer that a few days before, he was driving in Springfield and saw a man and woman walking in the rain. He asked them if they needed a ride, and they said they were going to a house in Springfield. The owner told him that he would take them. On the way, he stopped and ran into a convenience store to grab something, and when he came out, his car was gone. He immediately reported it stolen.
Selby said that his office filed felony tampering charges on Hood and his passenger, explaining that “we couldn’t file stealing charges because the actual theft happened in Greene County. However, the definition of tampering with a motor vehicle includes possessing a vehicle that has been stolen. We have to prove that the defendant knew that the vehicle was stolen. In this case, that aspect was pretty straightforward given the testimony of the owner.” The prosecutor further stated that “this defendant has nine prior felony convictions for stealing related offenses. As recently as January 2020, he was sentenced in another county to five years for stealing. He was paroled in March of this year and didn’t even make it a month before stealing another car.”
The prosecutor also praised the work of Officer Colman for a complete investigation. “He could have accepted the initial story of the defendant, wrote him a ticket for not having registration on the vehicle, and let him go, and this guy would probably still be out there stealing cars,” said Selby. “However, Officer Colman was persistent, followed up on the VIN and then, after the arrest, with the owner, and put together a complete investigation for my office to work with. Thanks to his work Joshua Hood is now where he needs be.”
Charges against the passenger are still pending.
According to a press release issued by the Stone County Prosecutor’s Office last week, Joshua Hood, 32, of Sarcoxie, Missouri, was sentenced to ten years in prison last week on charges of tampering with a motor vehicle.
Prosecutor Matt Selby stated that on April 10, 2021, Reeds Spring Police Officer Colman stopped a vehicle in Reeds Spring for not having a license plate. At first, the driver, who was identified as Joshua Hood, stated that he had just purchased the car with his stimulus check. When the officer asked him for his registration and insurance, Hood then said that he had just rented the car. That prompted Officer Colman to ask for a copy of the rental agreement, which led Hood to state that he had actually just borrowed the car from a friend. However, upon further questioning by the officer, Hood and the passenger could not agree on the “friends” name.
Officer Colman had Stone County dispatch check the status of Hood’s driver’s license and the vehicle identification number on the vehicle. It was determined that Hood’s license was suspended and that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Springfield six days prior. Colman had Hood exit the vehicle, explained that the car had been reported stolen, and Hood exclaimed that he couldn’t believe that his friend would do something like that to him. Hood also said that he had recently got out of prison, and this would make him go back.
After being placed under arrest by Colman and read his Miranda rights, Hood said in more detail that he was at a friend’s house and asked for a ride. The friend told him that he didn’t have time to take Hood anywhere but that he could just borrow his car. Colman took Hood to the Stone County jail, booked him, but didn’t stop there. He then contacted the vehicle owner, who told the officer that a few days before, he was driving in Springfield and saw a man and woman walking in the rain. He asked them if they needed a ride, and they said they were going to a house in Springfield. The owner told him that he would take them. On the way, he stopped and ran into a convenience store to grab something, and when he came out, his car was gone. He immediately reported it stolen.
Selby said that his office filed felony tampering charges on Hood and his passenger, explaining that “we couldn’t file stealing charges because the actual theft happened in Greene County. However, the definition of tampering with a motor vehicle includes possessing a vehicle that has been stolen. We have to prove that the defendant knew that the vehicle was stolen. In this case, that aspect was pretty straightforward given the testimony of the owner.” The prosecutor further stated that “this defendant has nine prior felony convictions for stealing related offenses. As recently as January 2020, he was sentenced in another county to five years for stealing. He was paroled in March of this year and didn’t even make it a month before stealing another car.”
The prosecutor also praised the work of Officer Colman for a complete investigation. “He could have accepted the initial story of the defendant, wrote him a ticket for not having registration on the vehicle, and let him go, and this guy would probably still be out there stealing cars,” said Selby. “However, Officer Colman was persistent, followed up on the VIN and then, after the arrest, with the owner, and put together a complete investigation for my office to work with. Thanks to his work Joshua Hood is now where he needs be.”
Charges against the passenger are still pending.