Colorado: Elbert theft probe takes to the air - View from plane nets recovery of 200-plus stolen items

The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office went to the skies with an investigation that recovered more than 200 stolen items and resulted in the arrest of a Calhan farrier.

Justin Blasingame, 34, was charged with multiple counts after a victim offered the use of his private airplane to help investigators gain an aerial view of Blasingame’s property.

The air trip disclosed that Blasingame was in possession of a customized fifth-wheel trailer reported missing in mid-January from a home in Elbert County, said Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap.

The owner had converted the trailer into a customized gooseneck, unlike any produced by the original manufacturer, Heap said. When the report of the theft arrived at the sheriff’s office, investigators suspected Blasingame was the common link to it and several other thefts and burglaries.

On Jan. 19, sheriff’s investigator Jason Miller went airborne over Blasingame’s Calhan home on 80 acres off Judge Orr Road south of the El Paso county line. The owner of the custom trailer was at the controls of the plane and positively identified his trailer, parked behind a building on Blasingame’s property.

Miller obtained a search warrant and eventually recovered more than 200 items from Blasingame’s property. The recovered items had been reported stolen from Elbert, El Paso and Washington counties and Colorado Springs, Fort Morgan and Fountain, Heap said.

“Miller was diligent and tenacious in his investigation in bringing Mr. Blasingame to justice,” Heap said. “He did a great job.”

The approximate value of the items reported stolen out of Elbert County is $29,000, Miller said. Blasingame works as a farrier, shoeing horses for a living in El Paso County.

Blasingame was arrested in Elbert County March 5, when he appeared in court on an unrelated case. He was charged with theft by receiving, second degree burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

Blasingame has two prior felonies on his record, opening the door for a possible sentencing enhancement as a habitual criminal, Heap said. If Blasingame is convicted, the enhancer would increase his possible sentence to 36 years in prison, Heap said.

Source:  http://www.ourcoloradonews.com