13 accused of stealing booze from train

A investigation into recent thefts from CSX Transportation railroad cars led to the arrest last Friday of 13 adults and juveniles, and police searches of two Corbin homes.
With information garnered from a confidential informant, Corbin K-9 officer Brandon White said he went to a home at 1016 South Main Street where he discovered 18 cases of stolen vodka laying in the floor.
“We knocked on the door … we could see the vodka through a window piled up in the living room there was so much of it,” White said.
According to police, the residents of the home allowed police to search. Velda Kaye Ball, 45, of Corbin was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property over $300 along with two juveniles at the residence.
White said the vodka was taken off a CSX Transportation train while it was stopped near Wal-Mart SuperCenter in north Corbin. Police searched the track area, but could find no other stolen items. Police say the juveniles broke into a train car and hid the vodka, then went and picked it up later.
Further investigation led police to a home at 502 North Depot Street later Friday afternoon where more alleged stolen alcohol and 11 state traffic signs were discovered.
Arrested at the residence were: Allan Michael McFarland, 18, of Corbin; James Ray Richmond, 18, Woodbine; Dustin Scott Greene, 23, Corbin; Reed Jaret Bowlin, 18, Gray; Dustin Lee Pretty, 18, Corbin; Timothy Aubrey Wright, 18, Corbin; along with three male juveniles and one female juvenile.
All the adults arrested were charged with receiving stolen property over $300 and under $300 and unlawful transaction with a minor.
Bowlin, Pretty and Wright were additionally charged with third-degree burglary and felony theft after investigators linked them with an Aug. 30 break-in at Value Pawn Shop on Fourth Street in Corbin.
According to Corbin Police Capt. Tim Helton, the three entered the store through a window after hours and took numerous Playstation 2 video games, DVDs, watches, knives and a DVD player.
During the Friday raid, police found several cases of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Police say the alcohol was taken several weeks earlier and was likely stolen out of a stopped train car on the tracks directly across from the residence.
“They had a big party,” Corbin Police officer Rob Jones said. “There were bottles everywhere.”
Investigators say about 20 cases of Mike’s Hard Lemonade were taken in the theft. Only about a fourth of it was recovered. The vodka, found earlier in the day, was stolen during the overnight hours Thursday, police suspect. It was valued at about $1,460.
Authorities suspect that some of those arrested were responsible for a similar theft in late August when scrap chrome and stainless steel auto wheels were taken from a train car.
“We think these boys know something about that,” Corbin Police Capt. Bruce Rains said. “There’s been several trains broken into … in the same area, in the same place.”
Police say they think the suspects have been involved in other thefts as well, but have brought no further charges.
Also discovered in the home were 11 street signs which have a price tag of about $50 each.
Because of the squalid and decrepit condition of the North Depot Street home, Corbin Building Inspector Frank Burke investigated possible building code violations Monday. He said he expects the house will likely be demolished unless extensive repairs are conducted in the near future because of numerous structural problems and property maintenance violations.
Investigating the case were Corbin officers: Brandon White, Steve Douglas, Bill Rose, Tim Helton, Mike Carroll, Brian Lawson and Rob Jones. Greg Powers, of the CSX Railroad Police, is also investigating the thefts.