NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE
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The Michigan State Police (MSP) Gaylord Post was contacted in February 2022, to take a report of a stolen tires and rims from a Ford pickup truck in Nunda Township. The case was eventually closed due to no leads or suspects being developed. The victim was told the case would be reopened if any new leads were found.
On Feb. 11, 2023, the victim contacted the trooper in charge of the case and said he had seen his stolen tires on a vehicle at a gas station in Wolverine. He provided the trooper with the vehicle information.
The vehicle was registered to 39-year-old Jennifer Nicole Leslie from Frederic. Leslie’s boyfriend, 37-year-old Thomas Jeffery Skinner Jr. from Wolverine was incarcerated in the Cheboygan county Jail on unrelated charges. Leslie was interviewed and afterwards, telephone records and recordings were reviewed between Leslie and Skinner. Incriminating statements were made which led to a search warrant being executed at Skinner’s residence. Incriminating evidence was seized. Additional suspects were identified, and search warrants conducted. One of the suspects, 39-year-old Avon Wayne Raber, was interviewed at his residence in Indian River.
A report was sent to the Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office and arrest warrants were issued for Skinner, Raber, and Leslie. All three were arrested and lodged in the Cheboygan County Jail.
Skinner was arraigned in the 89th District Court in Cheboygan County on four counts Conspiracy to Commit Larceny from Motor Vehicle, four counts Larceny from Motor Vehicle, one count Stolen Property Receiving and Concealing $1,000 - $20,000 Conspiracy, and one count Stolen Property Receiving and Concealing $1,000 - $20,000. Skinner’s bond was set at $10,000 cash surety. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 13, 2023.
Raber arraigned in the 89th District Court in Cheboygan County on four counts Conspiracy to Commit Larceny from Motor Vehicle. Raber was given a $20,000 PR bond. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 13, 2023.
Leslie arraigned in the 89th District Court in Cheboygan County on one count Stolen Property Conspiracy, and one count Stolen Property Receiving and Concealing $1,000 - $20,000. Leslie was given a $10,000 PR bond. Her next scheduled court appearance is on April 13, 2023.
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