April 13, 2018 – A Delaware County Grand Jury has returned at 16-count indictment against 36-year-old Jared E. Jeffries of Delaware and 33-year-old Tonya Rae Phillips of Columbus.
The duo was arrested after an investigation led law enforcement to the couple’s Columbus hotel room.
“A rash of daytime break-ins had been reported by residents beginning on March 20, 2018 and continuing through April 2, 2018,” said Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien. “During the investigation, residents described a suspicious vehicle, and that was the vehicle located outside the Columbus hotel.”
Jefferies and Phillips were taken into custody, and the hotel room was searched.
“A search of the room yielded the return of some of the stolen items, but other items had been pawned,” O’Brien said. “Among the items listed as missing were multiple guns, jewelry, clothes, a suitcase, a guitar, and electronics.”
The burglaries occurred during the day while the homeowners were away. Residents in Delaware and Union Counties were affected.
Jefferies and Phillips are each charged with six counts of burglary – second-degree felonies, four counts of theft – third-degree felonies, one count of theft – a fourth-degree felony, four counts of theft – fifth-degree felonies, and one additional misdemeanor count of theft.
An arraignment hearing has not yet been set.
