Sunday, May 19, 2024
This story has been updated on Feb. 12, 2024 with more information.
PARKER COUNTY — Parker County Grand Jury indicted a man in connection with stealing a trailer last fall.
Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier said in a press release the investigation began Oct. 4 on Mundi Lane, which is southwest of Azle near the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 730 and Flat Rock Road. A 68-year-old man reported his enclosed trailer containing an A/C unit, tools and other personal items was stolen. The man said he paid $4,400 for the trailer, according to the sheriff’s office arrest report.
Using a search warrant, officers recovered the trailer during the night of Oct. 11 on Allison Road in Springtown, according to the arrest report. Three men were there when officers arrived, and all were arrested.
In December, the three men were indicted in connection with charges of possession of methamphetamine that was found in the trailer, and one was also indicted in connection with marijuana possession after almost 3.5 pounds of the substance was discovered in an adjacent vehicle.
John Hodkinson was one of the men arrested by officers, and he reportedly resided at the address on Allison Road at the time of his initial arrest. According to the arrest report, Hodkinson told the investigator his friend, later identified as Grant Gaither, dropped the trailer off at his home, and Hodkinson agreed to store the trailer, which was empty when he received it.
According to the report, Hodkinson also told the investigator Gaither drove a white Ford F-150 single cab pickup truck, the same kind of vehicle seen in security footage of the trailer theft.
On the morning of Oct. 12, officers executed a search warrant at Gaither’s home on Cedar Creek Drive in Azle and found the missing items from the trailer. The arrest report states that Gaither “denied any knowledge of the stolen trailer or stolen property.”
Investigators also found almost 3.5 grams of methamphetamine in a nightstand in Gaither’s home.
In December, Gaither was indicted in connection with stealing property valued at equal to or more than $2,500 but less than $30,000, which is a third-degree felony. He was also indicted in connection with possession of a controlled substance.
Hodkinson was previously arrested in connection with the theft, but he has not been indicted for that.
A person convicted of a third-degree felony can face imprisonment of 2-10 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000, according to the Texas Penal Code.
Gaither declined to be interviewed for this article. Efforts to reach Hodkinson for comment were unsuccessful.
