The jury trial of 53-year-old Robert Cobb of Yellville got underway Tuesday in Marion County Circuit Court, with Judge Gordon Webb presiding.
Cobb and 42-year-old Anthony Contreras of Summit were arrested in November 2017 and charged with residential burglary, breaking or entering, criminal mischief, theft of a firearm and theft of property, all felony-level offenses.
According to the probable cause affidavit, deputies responded to a reported burglary along Water Tower Lane in Summit. While processing the scene, from the deck of the residence one of the officers observed two male subjects, later identified as Cobb and Contreras, walking toward the residence. The residence had a locked gate at its entrance, which led to the officers parking their patrol cars nearly 100 yards south of the home.
The two men were observed walking slowly in a crouched position. The officer observed Cobb go to the front of the residence and Contreras to the rear, where he walked within a few feet of the Marion County corporal standing on the deck.
When ordered to stop and make his hands visible, Contreras dropped an item from his hand. Cobb was being escorted to the deck area at this point by the second officer.
When asked if the two suspects knew the owner and why were they were on the property, Cobb and Contreras looked at each other. Cobb then said he had seen three guys running from the location of the gate and was curious what was going on.
When Contreras was ordered to stop, Cobb was seen running toward the woods north of the residence carrying a ratchet, with a socket and a bag. The ratchet had been observed earlier on the ground in the driveway.
The bag and ratchet were identified by the homeowner as his property.
The report notes 15 firearms were reported missing, with extensive damage to the inside of the residence and to one of the gun safes. Other safes were reported stolen. In addition to the residence, items were missing from two storage buildings and a camper trailer.
The burglary was believed to have been going on for several days, while the owners were in Florida. Items were taken down a power line and staged for pickup, possibly at the railroad tracks.
Marion County and Circuit Clerk Dawn Moffet says it appears jury deliberations will begin Wednesday.
A motion for an order of continuance in Contreras’ case was granted by Judge John Putman earlier this month. His trial is now set for Nov. 13th.
Anthony Contreras
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