An Ottumwa man is facing several charges stemming from three incidents in late June and early July.
According to court documents, at around 7:48 a.m. on June 27, 26 year old Jedakyah Daniel Ponce allegedly broke into a truck at a residence on E. 2nd Street, by crawling through the window. He then stole the truck and drove it away. The truck was later found with the license plates removed in an attempt to conceal it. The estimated value of the truck was $10,000. Incident reports then allege that around 6 a.m. on July 7, Ponce entered the garage of an occupied residence on Kenwood Street while the occupants were asleep, and stole several items.
Ponce was located at around 6:29 a.m. on July 7, found passed out on the porch of a residence (that he did not live at) on McCarroll Drive. Upon making contact with Ponce, an officer noted the smell of alcohol, and Ponce allegedly stated that he had used methamphetamine the previous day. Observing Ponce’s pupils and his lack of balance, the officer concluded that Ponce was currently under the influence of methamphetamine. The reports allege that Ponce admitted to stealing the truck, and that items from the garage on Kenwood were found in his possession.
Ponce was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Theft (a class C Felony), 2nd Degree Burglary (a class C Felony), and Public Intoxication (a Simple Misdemeanor). He was transported to the Wapello County Jail where he is being held on a $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for July 14.
As a reminder, a criminal charge is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
