BEDFORD – Two people were arrested on theft and meth charges after Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded on Sunday, March 17th, to a report that 30-year-old Justin Reynolds and 39-year-old Michelle Wess had stolen several credit cards from a man.
The caller reported Reynolds used Wess to distract the man while he took the credit cards.
Earlier the same day, officers were called to the victim’s home after Reynolds reported his girlfriend was being raped by the man.
Deputies Robin Compton, Brenton Trueblood, and Thomas Porter responded and found the rape was unfounded and the encounter was consensual.
When officers returned a second time, they spoke to the male victim. He told police his wallet had been missing for a few days. Police learned that Wess and Reynolds were still at the home.
The male victim yelled at Wess and Reynolds to come into the living room from a back bedroom to speak to officers. When both were asked if they had the victim’s credit cards, both denied having them.
An officer then asked Reynolds to open his wallet, and police found three of the victim’s credit cards inside. He also removed a round rubber cylinder containing meth residue from his pocket.
Reynold told police that an 18-year-old had given him the credit cards earlier in the day.
The caller told police that Reynolds told his uncle that he had gone into the garage and taken the wallet while she distracted the man. Reynolds also looked for a gun belonging to the victim but discovered the victim didn’t own any weapons.
The caller said Reynolds did this to get back at the victim because “he had done Michelle wrong” and “they were going to do him wrong.”
Michelle Wess, 39, Rockville, was arrested for theft, possession of meth, disorderly conduct, interfering with a public safety official
Wess admitted she knew Reynolds was going to steal from the victim, and if the victim confronted him about the theft, he was going to beat up the victim.
Police detained Reynolds and Wess on charges of theft and possession of meth.
Wess is also facing charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
During a search of Reynolds, police found a baggie in his boot containing a glass smoking device and a small bag of marijuana.
Wess was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital for a medical evaluation
