A Mountain Home man had his probation revoked in three Baxter County criminal cases, pled guilty to a 2023 case in Boone County in which a truck was stolen and was given 10 years-probation during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court May 13.
Forty-nine-year-old Michael Scudder’s probation was revoked in cases involving thefts from storage units, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, being a felon in possession of a firearm and stealing a number of propane bottles from various locations.
One of the Baxter County cases was set up in 2022 and two in 2019.
A Boone County case set up last year caused revocation petitions to be filed in the Baxter County cases since Scudder’s involvement violated the terms and conditions of his probation.
In the Boone County case, Scudder was accused of stealing a 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck with an attached trailer and a riding mower that was on the trailer.
In addition, a number of items, including guns, cash and titles to various vehicles were reported to have been taken out of a residence located along South Street in Harrison.
The probable cause affidavit is not clear when the house is alleged to have been burglarized in relation to the theft of the truck.
A neighbor told police she saw a white Nissan being driven by a female pull up to the house, two males got out and moved over to the Chevrolet pickup and drove away.
The homeowner was staying at an assisted living center at the time.
A be-on-the-lookout was issued and the truck was stopped by an Arkansas State Police trooper and a Boone County sheriff’s deputy. Scudder was reported to have been driving the pickup.
The woman driving the Nissan seen by the neighbor, Scudder and another male were all brought to the Harrison Police Department for processing.
The woman was interviewed and told investigators Scudder was her ex-boyfriend and he had asked her to drive him from Mountain Home to Harrison to pick up a vehicle he had purchases.
The woman said Scudder showed her a registration card and insurance papers showing the truck belonged to him. The second male said he had traveled to Harrison because Scudder told him he had purchased a vehicle and might need help getting it started.
The woman and the second male were not charged as they appeared to have been duped into participating by Scudder.
Scudder told investigators a friend had told him about the truck and said he might be able to pick it up cheap. He said he met with the owner of the vehicle at his Harrison residence and paid him $2,500 for the vehicle and $500 for the trailer and mower.
Scudder told police he had asked the owner to give him a couple of days before he came for it so he could register and insure the truck. He said the man agreed.
The personal assistant to the man who owned the truck said it was not possible for Scudder to have met her employer on the date he said he paid for the truck.
She said the man had been at the assisted living center at the time and that she and the man’s daughter were the only two people authorized to take him from the center.
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