Stolen property stash found in Delphi
Community tipster helps police
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

According to a press release from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Detectives Kevin Hammond and Steve Mullin investigated a report of stolen property from local construction sites at 803 E. Columbia St. in Delphi. Resident John P. Fontes, 29 was taken into custody May 23 on ten preliminary Class D felony counts of theft.

Hammond received information that in early May Fontes was pilfering power tools, hand tools and weigh scales among other items from area construction sites and selling the stolen items on Ebay.

Mullin, Deputy Grant Davidson and the Delphi Police Department assisted in the investigation. The initial estimate of the value of the stolen property recovered is $12,000. Formal criminal charges are being developed by the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office.

"Once again, concerned members of our community have been invaluable in helping our agency," Sheriff Tony Burns said. "With information supplied to our investigators, we were able to successfully follow up on these crimes. It is yet another prime example of the community and our office working hand in hand to improve the quality of life in our county."

Fontes was brought before Carroll Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Smith on Friday for probation revocation. He was held without bond until Tuesday when he appeared in court for an initial hearing for the latest charges. Bond was set at $30,000 for both cases combined. $15,000 was posted as a 10 percent cash bond and $15,000 as a surety bond.

According to deputy prosecutor Christine Smith Fontes was formally charged with nine counts of theft and three counts of receiving stolen property, all Class D felonies, stemming from the recent investigation. He will appear for an omnibus hearing Aug. 9 and the trial date was set for Aug. 21. Lafayette attorney Steven Knecht was appointed to represent Fontes.