Charges filed against Kimberling City, Mo., man after missing tractor-trailer is recovered

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The recovery earlier this week of a tractor-trailer stolen from a Butler County business led to the filing of charges against a Kimberling City, Mo., man.

Christopher Amsden, 33, was charged Wednesday afternoon with first-degree tampering and stealing by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Bill Gresham.

After considering the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued a warrant for Amsden's arrest and set his bond at $50,000 cash.

The complaint on file with the court alleges on March 3 Amsden "knowingly and without the consent of the owner" possessed a 1994 Peterbilt truck and a 2000 John Deere backhoe.

The complaint further alleges on March 3 Amsden stole a 2004 Eager Beaver low-boy dovetail trailer, of a value of at least $500, from James Ray.

On March 3, Ray reported the theft of truck, trailer and backhoe from his business, Ray Farms & Equipment, in the 100 block of Highway T in Poplar Bluff, to the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

"There was a video surveillance from a neighboring business, and we were able to tell there was one lookout vehicle who waited for the truck, trailer and backhoe to come out," said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. "The lookout vehicle was probably 500 yards from where the actual theft occurred."

Dobbs said the truck, trailer and backhoe were in an open lot, among several other empty refrigerator trailers,¿ and "all came out together," heading west on U.S. 60, along with the "lookout vehicle."

Since the theft, Ray has run several newspaper advertisements seeking information leading to the return of his property and offering a reward.

"[The theft] didn't fall under his business' insurance," Dobbs said.

On Monday, Dobbs said, the sheriff's department was contacted by Amsden, who reported the "stolen equipment was sitting on the lot of Jack Rust Trucking in Rogersville," Deputy Kellis Thompson said in his probable cause affidavit. "The stolen 1994 Peterbilt and the Eager Beaver trailer were both located on the lot of Rust Trucking in Rogersville."

When the company's owner, Jackie Rust, and his wife were contacted, Thompson said, they were told Amsden allegedly "asked if he could park the white Peterbilt, yellow trailer and a yellow John Deere backhoe on his lot."

Dobbs said there were some statements made by Amsden when he first reported this that "indicated to us that he most likely had some kind of role in the theft."

Amsden, according to Dobbs, reported knowing some Poplar Bluff businessmen and apparently had been in the area about a week prior to the theft on his over-the-road truck route.

Dobbs said Amsden apparently was mad at his former boss, Rust, who allegedly had "shorted him on some pay. I guess he assumed we would not investigate it any farther. ... Upon interviewing numerous subjects, we were informed that Amsden was in fact the one who brought the vehicle to Rogersville."

Rust, Dobbs said, was arrested Monday by Webster County authorities on suspicion of receiving stolen property and held for 24 hours in the Webster County Jail.

Amsden was booked into the Butler County jail at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday.

As authorities continue searching for the missing backhoe, Dobbs said Ray recovered his tractor and trailer Tuesday morning.