Father, son arrested for thefts from farm equipment

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A father and son were arrested in Mississippi County for a series of thefts that left damaged farm equipment behind.

Fred J. Bowers Jr., 45, and Jesse Allen Bowers, 19, of rural New Madrid County, each is charged with felony property damage and two counts of felony theft after an investigation by Mississippi County Deputy Cory Hutcheson.

The investigation began after a local farmer reported batteries and wire stolen from several irrigation pivots in rural parts of Mississippi County.

"During the course of the investigation, Deputy Hutcheson learned Fred J. Bowers Jr. and his son, Jesse Bowers, had delivered a substantial amount of copper and tin to separate vendors," Sheriff Keith Moore said in a news release. "After reviewing images of the items delivered by Fred and Jesse Bowers to the recycling centers, it was determined that the Bowers were likely responsible for the thefts."

The men were taken Tuesday afternoon to the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department for questioning.

During an interview, Jesse Bowers said he and his father had stolen wire from several pivots in both Mississippi and New Madrid counties, according to Moore.

"After each theft, the pair would conceal the metal in wooded areas near their home," Moore said in the news release. "Then, in an effort to avoid detection, the men would retrieve and sell the items to local recycling centers in smaller quantities."

The sheriff said the younger Bowers also implicated himself and his father in a rural Mississippi County burglary and offered to show officers the locations of each pivot and house from which he and his father had stolen metal.

"These guys caused $3,500 in damage to every pivot they touched," Moore said. "While their profit was small, it came at great expense to the local farmers."

Both men were being held in the Mississippi County Detention Center with bonds set at $50,000.

The investigation into other stealing offenses is continuing, according to the news release, with additional charges expected.

Pertinent address:

Charleston, Mo.