Burglars Steal Lotto Tickets (and more) and Cash Tickets in, Get Caught, LIVINGSTON, January 22, 2019 - On January 14, 2019, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to Burglary of a Building at the Sandy Creek Marina Store. The suspect entered the building through the roof and where the suspect took lottery tickets, cigarettes and cash. Detective from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was able to track the stolen lottery tickets which showed the suspect had cashed several of the winning lottery tickets at stores located in Shepherd, Cleveland and Splendora Texas. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office traveled to the stores and collected video surveillance of the suspect and suspect vehicle. The suspect was identified as 31 year old Joseph Smith of Livingston, and the suspect vehicle was also identified as belonging to Juanita Fassler of Livingston. Detectives located the vehicle, which was being driven by Juanita Fassler and obtained Consent to Search of the vehicle which obtained and evidence was located in the vehicle linking the suspects to the Burglary at the Sandy Creek Marina/Store.
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Juanita Fassler, 36, of Goodrich
Investigators obtained information that Joseph Smith and Juanita Fassler are currently married and living together. Officers traveled to the residence of Smith and Fassler where Smith was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant. A search warrant was obtained for the residence which evidence was found linking Joseph Smith and Juanita Fassler to the Burglary of Sandy Creek Marina/Store, a burglary of a fireworks stand at the FM 350 south store, Burglary of the Gokey Bowling Alley in Goodrich. Evidence was also found linking them to a burglary at the Meditrim Office in the City of Livingston and the Smoke Shop in Leggett Texas. These cases are being worked by the Livingston Police Department and Alabama Coushatta Tribe Police. Joseph Smith has been charged with three counts of burglary of a building $40,000.00 bond, Juanita Fassler has been charged with three counts of burglary of a building and one count of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance $45,000.00 bond. If anyone has any information please contact Detectives David Mitchell and David Sottosanti at 936-327-6810.
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