ILLINOIS COMPUTER STOLEN FROM BUSINESS RECOVEREDRegister-Mail.com - Galesburg Register-Mail OnlineTwo arrrested for burglary
Friday, December 23, 2005

GALESBURG - Police arrested a Henderson woman and a Galesburg man Thursday for allegedly burglarizing a Galesburg business and a residence. The couple then allegedly traded the stolen items for drugs.
Laura L. Beard, 25, was arrested at 2 p.m. for residential burglary, possession of stolen property and forgery, as well as for an unrelated Knox County warrant for residential burglary, two counts of theft and forgery.

Steven A. Howerton, 27, 1127 N. Broad St., was arrested at 11 a.m. Thursday on Windish Drive - the exact location was not on the booking report - for two counts of burglary, possession of stolen property and "warrants to be added."

According to Galesburg Police Department investigator Bob Schwartz, Beard and Howerton allegedly burglarized The Vinyl Graphics Store, 2403 Grand Ave., and a residence at 911 Willard St. on Dec. 18.

"They were basically taking that property and trading it for crack cocaine from Jonas Ross," Schwartz alleged.

Jonas Ross III, 25, 484 Monmouth Blvd., was arrested Wednesday evening on 13 felony drug and weapons charges - five counts of delivery of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of aggravated possession of a stolen firearm, armed violence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of cannabis with intent to deliver. The five delivery of a controlled substance charges are class X felonies, punishable by 6 to 30 years in prison on each count of Ross is found guilty.

Ross is scheduled to appear in Knox County Circuit Court today for a bond hearing.

Schwartz said police conducted a search warrant on Ross' house and recovered the computer stolen from Vinyl Graphics, as well as Christmas presents, kids' games and clothing from the house on Willard Street.

Beard and Howerton are being held in the Knox County jail, pending their bond hearings, which are also scheduled for today.