A man charged with breaking into seven vehicles and stealing property as well as possessing and selling drugs was sentenced to 14 years in prison during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Twenty-six-year-old Nathaniel Ryan Kramer of Salesville had two active criminal cases in Baxter County – both opened based on events that took place in July last year.
In all Kramer was facing 23 counts of breaking or entering, trafficking in drugs, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and theft by receiving.
LIST OF CRIMES GREW
In late July last year, the Baxter County Sheriff’s office opened an investigation into the theft of a pistol from Big Steve’s Pawnshop. A tip was received that the stolen weapon had been traded to Kramer for drugs.
Shortly after the investigation was opened, a report of a person breaking into a vehicle was received by the sheriff’s office. A description of the suspect was broadcast and a deputy reported seeing a male matching the description walking down a highway.
The man was stopped and identified as Kramer. Earlier in the investigation, Kramer was found to be on active parole based on convictions in Pulaski County. He had a signed search waiver on file.
A parole officer in the Mountain Home probation/parole office was contacted and a compliance visit was made at Kramer’s residence.
The search turned up drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, several items of drug paraphernalia, including digital scales and devices used for smoking both methamphetamine and marijuana.
SUSPECT LAWYERS UP
At one point, Kramer is reported to have admitted to breaking into two vehicles and receiving the pistol reported stolen at the pawnshop in exchange for a quantity of meth and $125.
As Kramer was being questioned about the initial break-ins, other reports of vehicle break-ins in the same general area were coming into the sheriffs office.
Four of the vehicles were in the same location at an address along State Highway 5 South. A surveillance video is alleged to show Kramer going from vehicle-to-vehicle opening doors that he found unlocked and helping himself to the contents.
In all, there were vehicle break-ins reported in Norfork, Salesville, Briarcliff and Buford.
After investigators saw the video, they brought Kramer back to the Criminal Investigation Division and began a process of tying to tie vehicles with items of stolen property.
In the probable cause affidavit it is noted that Kramer was having trouble completing the task. Investigators surmise that Kramer, had “broken into so many vehicles, he does not remember what items belong to what vehicles.”
When confronted with the evidence of the growing number of vehicle break-ins, Kramer asked for an attorney.
In another Baxter County case, he is accused of selling methamphetamine to a person working with law enforcement.
According to electronic court files, Kramer has had a lengthy list of criminal cases opened against him in several Arkansas Counties.
In addition to Baxter, charges have also been brought in Conway, Lincoln and Pulaski Counties. Most of the charges have stemmed from alleged property thefts.
He was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in Pulaski County in 2019.
STEALS CAR TWO HOURS AFTER LEAVING JAIL
On August 10, 2018, Kramer was released from the Conway County jail at noon. Less than two hours later — when he could not get anyone to provide him with a ride — he stole a 1998 Honda Accord parked behind a gas station.
At one point, Kramer was freed on his own recognizance to check into an in-patient therapy program. He was not in the program long, however. Records show he climbed over a fence and took off with his girlfriend.
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