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Delaware State Police
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Troopers Charge Trio With Milford Area Burglaries
Released-Thursday, May 15, 2008
Milford-Yesterday, Troop 3 criminal investigators charged three individuals suspected of breaking into the home of a 63-year-old Milford man last week.
The investigation began on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 when the victim reported a burglary at his home located along the 20000 block of Cedar Beach Road in Milford. During the investigation investigators learned the dwelling had been entered via an unsecured door.
Once inside the suspects allegedly removed a 18 karat gold and diamond ring valued at $8,000.00, a silver ring with blue sapphire cat’s eye stone valued at $500.00, and twenty dollars in various coins.
On Wednesday, May 7, 2008, a Milford Police officer was dispatched to room 45 of the Travelers Inn motel located along the 1000 block of N. Walnut Street to investigate a disorderly persons complaint involving Charles H. Knight, 40, of Milford, Heather R. Le Claire, 23, of Frederica, and Jeanne Smith, 34, of Dover.
Knight and Smith were contacted by the Milford police officer. During his investigation, the officer located various amounts of money and numerous old coins including Liberty dollars, Eisenhower dollars, and Susan B Anthony silver dollars. Also located were prescription pills and crack cocaine.
Knight and Smith were taken into custody at the scene and charged with several criminal offenses including possession of a controlled substance (vicadin and Oxycodone), possession of crack cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for keeping a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
While Knight was in custody, Milford police officers contacted Troop 3 detectives, reference the seized coins found in Knight’s motel room.
Knight was later interviewed at Troop 3 and told investigators he did not know where the coins came from but he was letting Smith and Le Claire stay with him at the motel. Knight told police he believed Smith brought the coins in the room.
Knight also confessed to committing a burglary along the 200 block of New Warf Road. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the motel room and recovered various items including keys, coin wrappers, and a jewelry box containing two rings matching the rings stolen from the Cedar Beach home. The owner of the rings later positively identified the rings.
As a result of this investigation Knight was arrested and formally charged with the following criminal offenses: seven counts of Burglary 2nd Degree (F), six counts of Theft (F), two counts of Theft (M), three counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), six counts of Criminal Mischief (M), one count of Criminal Mischief (F), He was arraigned and committed to the Delaware Correctional Center in lieu of $26,500.00 secured bond.
Smith was arrested and formally charged with the following criminal offenses: six counts of Burglary 2nd Degree (F), four counts of Theft (F), three counts of Theft (M), two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), five counts of Criminal Mischief (M), and one count of Criminal Mischief (F). She was arraigned and committed to the Women’s Correctional Institution in lieu of $8,300.00 secured bond.
Le Clair was arrested yesterday and formally charged with one count of Burglary 2nd Degree (F), one count of Theft (F), one count of Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), and one count of Criminal Mischief (M). She was arraigned and committed to the Women’s Correctional Institution in lieu of $3,050.00 secured bond.
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