For the second time in a month, vandalism to machines at the Laundry Land laundromat ON Porter Wagoner Boulevard has resulted in felony property damage charges being filed, this time against two people who were apparently involved in the same incident. The suspects were reportedly recorded committing the alleged crimes on surveillance video during the incidents.
On Dec. 1, court records show, a first-degree property damage charge was filed against Lorrin L. Allsman, 59, West Plains, after surveillance camera footage viewed by Officer Edward Heuchelin reportedly showed a man entered the building at about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and shaking and moving a coin-operated gambling machine.
In doing so, the suspect broke four points where the machine was attached to the wall, said Heuchelin, adding the business owner reported the machine is now not functioning as it should, is unsure if it can be repaired, and said it would cost $2,500 to replace.
Another officer recognized the suspect and identified him as Allsman, according to court documents, and as further confirmation, Heuchelin checked Allsman's driver,s license photo. Allsman was issued a summons to appear for arraignment on Jan. 16 before 37th Judicial Associate Circuit Court Judge R. David Ray and is not yet represented by an attorney, court records show.
The case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jodi Wake.
On Dec. 27, first-degree property damage charges were filed against John W. Johnson, 52, also of West Plains, and a warrant with a $5,000 bond was issued and served the same day, court records show.
On Dec. 26, Officer Jerry Mingus reported, he was dispatched to the laundromat to investigate a report of stealing in progress. The officer said he spoke to the business owner and was shown footage of a man, identified as Johnson, allegedly damaging a coin machine.
Johnson reportedly was seen kicking and bumping the machine several times before gaining access to the part of the machine that holds coins before removing the coin box and placing money in his pockets.
He then allegedly attempted to reach up in the machine and try to get more coins by making them fall to the bottom of the machine.
Johnson was found a short time later by Officer Jacob Brixey and taken into custody, then confessed to the officer that he had taken the money but claimed the machine was already broken when he entered the business.
The amount of change taken was reportedly $27.65, and all but $5.42 was recovered from Johnson, said authorities. However, the replacement value of the machine was estimated to be $3,800 with an additional cost of $100 to repair a wall.
He remains in custody, having entered a plea of not guilty on Dec. 28 when he was arraigned, and was scheduled for counsel status hearing Monday morning before Ray, court records show. Assistant Public Defender Corri Mader Twillman is listed as his legal representation.
The case is being prosecuted by Hutchings and Howell County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Heath Hardman.
During the same investigation, a woman identified as Tiffany D. Dusenbury, 38, West Plains, was allegedly seen on surveillance shaking the machine several times before gaining access to the part of the machine that holds the coins and opening a locked door that contained a coin box, then removing some of the coins and placing them in a cloth bag.
Dusenbury was located by Officer Brent Keepes soon after and arrested, according to Mingus' statement to prosecutors.
She reportedly admitted to receiving money from Johnson that she knew was stolen but denied taking anything from the machine herself. Quarters totaling $11.25 were recovered from her, but an additional $20 in stolen coins had already been spent at a local vape shop, Mingus added.
A warrant with a $5,000 bond was issued for Dusenbury on Dec. 27, on which she was arrested the following day, records show. According to those records, she was arraigned the day of her arrest and also entered a plea of not guilty. On Monday morning, she appeared for a counsel status hearing before Ray, having completed an application for a public defender, and was waiting for an attorney to be appointed to her, the records she; she is scheduled for another counsel status hearing Thursday afternoon, also in Ray’s courtroom.
The case is also being prosecuted by Hutchings and Hardman.
