Nixon trio face felony charges after theft

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GONZALES — Three Nixon men face felony charges after authorities said they stole $33,000 worth of tools and equipment from a home in the Smiley area.

Around 10 a.m. Nov. 13, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of Highway 87 in Smiley in reference to a report of stolen property, Chief Deputy Jeromy Belin reported.

Belin said a large quantity of items were stolen, including fuel tanks, gun cases, cow lifts, power washers, hedge trimmers, car jacks, leaf blowers, weed eaters, homemade trailers, chainsaws and other miscellaneous tools and equipment. The stolen items were valued at $33,000, Belin said.

“The stolen property was later recovered at locations in Pandora and Union Valley,” Belin said.

“Investigators were able to return all property to the owner.”

Authorities found and arrested three suspects in the case — identified as Ronald Ray Nuss and Jonathan Talamantez and Jay Flores Jr., all of Nixon. All are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

Belin said sheriff’s investigators who worked the case included Sgt. Joshua Leopold, Investigator Sean Newlin, Corporal Darryl Hart and Deputy Cody Mikulencak. He said the ase has been forwarded to the county attorney’s office.

Belin and the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office offer advice to those who hope to avoid becoming victims of theft, as the holiday season is a frequent time for these kinds of incidents.

“With it being Christmas time, we ask citizens to be mindful when doing their shopping,” he said. “Be careful where you leave your packages, be mindful of what you leave out, and be sure to report and suspicious activity.”

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