Trailer Theft Charged in Custer County

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June 30, 2022

By News Director Jared Atha

A Thomas man was arrested and charged recently with grand larceny after allegedly stealing a covered trailer.

The owner of the trailer would witness the alleged felony as it happened.

According to a probable cause affidavit, 20-year-old Travis Justin Mendoza was arrested on June 19 after turning himself in to Clinton Police. The document stated that the victim would tell a Custer County Deputy that while riding four wheelers at the Canadian River near Fay, she would witness two men attach her trailer to a truck before driving away with it.

She stated that she would follow the truck to Thomas, witness it come to a stop at a home, but would lose sight of the truck and trailer as it sped through an alley.

She stated that the truck was spotted later that day driving through town without the trailer.

The deputy would investigate the home where the truck was witnessed to had stopped at, and interview a man at the home who denied knowing anything about the incident. He too stated that he was at the river when he heard a vehicle with a loud exhaust leaving the area and thought it sounded like one of his friend’s vehicles. He then drove to Thomas to visit Mendoza, but he was not at the residence when they arrived.

The man gave a description of Mendoza’s vehicle which allegedly matched the description of the truck that had taken the trailer.

Mendoza was later contacted by the deputy and was located in Clinton. The deputy told Mendoza to stay at that location and that a Clinton Police Officer would pick him up. However, Mendoza would turn himself into the Clinton Police Department.

There, it was discovered that Mendoza had an active arrest warrant, and he was taken into custody.

During an interview with authorities, Mendoza allegedly admitted to stealing the trailer. He also named a 17-year-old male from Thomas as an accomplice.

His first court date is July 11. A preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for July 22.

Copyright 2022 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

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