The Emery County Sheriff’s Office reported the suspects in the Stewart’s Market burglary and theft on Oct. 9 have been apprehended. After the burglary Det. Garrett Conover said they began interviewing the Stewart’s employees to gather any information they could about the burglary. Conover said in the early morning hours of Oct. 9, Tyler Firm, DOB 6-6-85, and a juvenile gained access into the Stewarts Market in Castle Dale. They opened the safe in the office area and took all of the money within the safe. They also stole approximately 15 cartons of cigarettes. After opening the safe, they took a hammer and knocked the dials off the safe to make it look like a forced entry into the safe.
The suspects left through the front door, leaving it unlocked. Conover said they began by interviewing all of the store’s managers. “We figured out the suspects had a key to the store and a combination to the safe. The managers are the only ones with access to the combination and who have keys. After interviewing all of the managers, one of them stood out and the investigation after this was directed to this one employee. After six weeks and three interviews with the employee Kayla Carter, DOB 4-9-87 we finally received the information as to who had accessed the store and stole the money. After receiving this information, we interviewed the juvenile who was in detention at the time on unrelated offenses. He gave his full confession of his involvement in the burglary and the details of how it happened.
“We would also like to thank Zions Bank for their reporting of a suspicious juvenile who was cashing in large amounts of rolled coins for bills. They alerted us that this was happening and when the interviews took place it indicated this juvenile had been involved in the Stewarts burglary. After interviewing the juvenile, we interviewed Kayla Carter one last time and she admitted to giving the combination to the safe and a key to Tyler Firm and the 17 year old juvenile. “At that point we made contact with Tyler Firm on the phone and asked him to come to the sheriff’s office for an interview which he did voluntarily. He denied his involvement at the time, but later gave a full confession. Firm was arrested. The defendants will face third degree felony burglary and second degree felony theft charges as well as criminal mischief a class B misdemeanor for damaging the safe.
The two male subjects reported they spent the money taken on fuel and drugs. The female claims she didn’t receive any of the stolen money. It is reported the defendants have a drug problem and the motive for the burglary was to steal money to buy more methamphetamines. Carter will be charged as an accomplice to the burglary a third degree felony and theft a second degree felony.
The defendants will also be ordered by the court to pay restitution for the stolen money. Firm had his initial appearance on Dec. 18 and Carter will appear in court on Jan. 2, 2013. Kyle Johnson is the juvenile recently turned adult involved. Carter has been charged and must appear to be booked before Jan. 2, 2013, but as of Dec. 21 had not done so.
Sheriff’s office apprehends Stewarts Market suspects
"Tyler Firm was one of the Stewarts Market burglars."