A Hot Springs woman was arrested on multiple felony charges Monday after allegedly stealing a vehicle and crashing it into a wooded area in Royal.
Kelsie Elizabeth Willingham, 20, who lists a Covey Rise Trail address, was taken into custody shortly after 4:30 p.m. and charged with theft of property more than $25,000 and first-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and breaking or entering, punishable by up to six years.
Willingham remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $12,500 and is set to appear Thursday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Monday afternoon, Garland County sheriff's Lt. Mike Roberson and Sgt. Bill House responded to a disturbance involving a "frantic female" in the 400 block of North Crystal Springs Road in Royal.
Roberson made contact with a homeowner of a residence there who stated a woman, later identified as Willingham, had stolen his 2013 Chevrolet Suburban, valued at $45,000, and crashed it into a wooded area on his property and then fled on foot into the woods.
House located Willingham in the area of Dudley Circle not far from where the vehicle was wrecked and she allegedly made a spontaneous statement that she had broken into a garage and stolen a vehicle "to get away from her boyfriend."
The affidavit notes the victim's residence had an attached garage where the Suburban was parked and while the garage door was down, a walk-through door on the side was unlocked. It was also noted the keys were in the vehicle.
After the Suburban was located in the woods, damage to the vehicle was estimated at about $40,000 and the wooded area and trail where Willingham attempted to take the vehicle reportedly sustained about $10,000 in damages.
Willingham was charged with breaking into the garage, the theft of the vehicle and the damages sustained to the vehicle and the property.
Local on 07/04/2018