A Eugene man has been placed on five years of supervised probation in connection with the theft of a vehicle and other items on Christmas 2018 in Cole County.
Christopher Hay, 32, pleaded guilty during a hearing before Cole County Judge Jon Beetem to one count of first-degree tampering and one count of misdemeanor stealing.
In July 2019, a New Bloomfield woman, Chasity Wyatt, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree tampering in connection with this case. She was placed on five years of supervised probation and ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment under the supervision of the probation and parole department.
Hay and Wyatt went onto a property in the 4700 block of Oak Ridge Road, where Hay took a 1969 Z28 Camaro and a 16-foot flatbed trailer, according to Cole County Sheriff's Department probable cause statements.
Hay told authorities he knew he was stealing the vehicle but thought he was relieving a debt he had with another party by getting the vehicle.
Hay reportedly returned to the same property two weeks later and took a riding lawnmower.
Authorities recovered the trailer in a field and traced it back to Hay.
Hay said Wyatt had told him about the Camaro. When questioned by authorities, Wyatt said she didn't know they were taking the car but thought they were picking it up for the person who had asked her to do so.