Investigation results in five arrests

DATE & TIME: Friday October 28, 2016                      

LOCATION: Gage County                             

OFFENSE: Stolen Vehicles, Thefts, Burglaries                       

CASE #: Multiple                    

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office has announced the completion of an investigation into multiple stolen vehicles, thefts, and burglaries that began in Gage County in the summer of 2015 and lasted into March of 2016.  As a result of the investigation, the following people are facing the following criminal charges:

Duston N. Clauson, age 36, of Fairbury, has been charged with (3) counts of Burglary, (3) counts of Theft, More than $5,000; (3) counts of Theft, $1,500 - $5,000; (3) counts of Conspiracy to Commit Theft, and (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary.  Clauson is also facing a charge of Fleeing to Avoid Arrest in relation to fleeing from Gage County Deputies in a stolen pickup truck on 01/02/16.  Clauson’s case is currently pending in Gage County court.       

Casey J. Oldfield, age 26, of Beatrice, is already facing numerous criminal charges including Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, and Attempted Manufacture of a Controlled Substance after investigators executed a search warrant at Oldfield’s residence in April 2016 and located stolen property connected to at least 11 victims in three different counties in both Nebraska and Kansas.  Oldfield is also now facing nine new criminal charges including Theft More than $5,000; (3) counts of Aiding and Abetting Theft; (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary; (3) counts of Conspiracy to Commit Theft; and (1) count of Aiding and Abetting Burglary.  An arrest warrant was issued for Oldfield on 10/24/16 for Delivery of a Controlled Substance.  Oldfield’s whereabouts are currently unknown.    

Aaron J. Satterfield, age 32 of Beatrice, has been charged with Theft, More than $5,000; (1) count of Accessory to a Felony; (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Theft; and (1) count of Aiding and Abetting Theft.  Satterfield is currently in custody at the Gage County Detention Center on unrelated charges.

William Umphenour, age 26 of Beatrice, was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence after he and Michael Alm were involved with making phone calls from the Gage County Detention Center to Casey Oldfield in February 2016 which led to the discarding of stolen property related to this investigation.  Umphenour is currently serving a prison sentence for this charge, and other unrelated charges.

Michael Alm, age 31 of Filley, was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence.  Alm’s court case is currently pending in Gage County District Court.

The investigation determined that methamphetamine was a driving factor in these crimes as some of the stolen property is believed to have been traded for methamphetamine in Lincoln and Omaha and the methamphetamine was then distributed in Gage and Jefferson Counties.  The investigation also determined that some of the stolen property was kept at either Clauson’s or Oldfield’s residences.     

The investigation, which lasted more than one year, involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the Nebraska State Patrol, Beatrice Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Fairbury Police Department, and the Washington County (KS) Sheriff’s Office.  Criminal charges are pending in other jurisdictions.    

Inv. Matthew Ernst, 90315       

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903