GPS tracking device nets 3 arrests, recovers stolen property in LaVerkin

File photo, LaVerkin Police Officer Amber Crouse's patrol truck at the LaVerkin Police Department parking lot, June 1, 2016 | Photo by Austin Peck, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A multi-agency response uncovered stolen property and identification documents and resulted in three arrests after a GPS tracking device on one of the missing items led officers to a location in LaVerkin Saturday afternoon.

Just after noon, officers received information from another agency reporting that property believed to be stolen was located at a LaVerkin residence, LaVerkin Police officer Amber Crouse said, adding that it was a house that police were already familiar with.

Victoria Nicole Corbins, of Beryl, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Victoria Nicole Corbins, of Beryl, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Investigators were able to obtain the address through a GPS tracking device or application that provided the location of the unspecified item. The address was then turned over to police.

“I can’t really go into any more detail on how the device was tracked,”  Crouse said, “as this is an ongoing investigation.”

Once a search warrant was obtained, officers entered the residence and during the search found several other unrelated items that had previously been reported stolen, drug paraphernalia and identification documents that did not belong to anyone present at the time.

Amber Alyse Hudgins, of Beryl, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Amber Alyse Hudgins, of Beryl, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Three individuals were arrested, Crouse said, including Victoria Nicole Corbin and Amber Elyse Hudgins, both out of Beryl, along with LaVerkin resident Joseph Murvin Cox.

The three were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility facing several charges.

Corbin faces four felony charges, including wrongful appropriation, a third-degree felony; two third-degree felony charges of acquiring a finance card without consent; and possession of multiple ID documents, also a third degree felony. Corbin is currently being held on $20,000 bail.

Hudgins is facing four felony counts of wrongful appropriation; drug possession schedule I, II analogue, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of possession of paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor. Bail is set at $21,360.

Joseph Murvin Cox, of LaVerkin, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Joseph Murvin Cox, of LaVerkin, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Cox faces one charge of possession of paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor; one count of drug possession schedule 1,2 analogue, a class A misdemeanor; and a traffic warrant out of Hurricane. Bail was set at $2,805, and Cox has since been released from jail.

“We are currently working with other agencies to see if we can help them with any open cases they may have right now,” Crouse said, “because there’s always the possibility that this case is related to other open cases.”

Tracking programs or apps for electronic devices commonly use GPS, Wi-Fi or IP geolocation and can send updates over the internet regarding the current location of the device. In the event it is lost or stolen, it maintains internet connectivity which allows the tracking system to keep tabs on the current whereabouts of the device, according to information obtained from the University of Washington. 

Officers from the LaVerkin Police Department and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s office were involved in the incident.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or first responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

 

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2 Comments

  • .... December 4, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    This is absolutely fantastic news that theses people have been apprehended and I’m sure justice will be served. and I would like to thank all those involved in making this possible

  • sagemoon December 5, 2016 at 10:21 am

    Probably dang tweekers.

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