Merchant foils con man

Quick action by a Clarendon merchant put three traveling criminals in jail last week.

Radio Shack owner Bill Stavenhagen said he had a bad feeling when a man later identified as Willy James Carroll of Richardson came into his store last Tuesday, January 5.

“He tried to buy about $400 worth of merchandise and used several different credit cards and gift cards and never took his gloves off,” Stavenhagen said.

When Carroll then tried to use an American Express card, Stavenhagen said he would have to see some identification. The suspect then told him he had left his ID in his motel room and that he would just go back to his room and get some cash.

“He left, and his car was parked out of my view, but Doug Kidd was coming into the store at that time,” Stavenhagen said. “Doug got the tag number and told me the car was an Audi, and I called the sheriff’s office.”

Stavenhagen’s son, Todd, was on his way out of town and noticed the car was at the Best Western and that information was called in also.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the Audi turned out to be stolen, and authorities arrested Carroll along with Bobby Joe Coburn of Louisville and Barbara Reeder of McKinney.

All three people have criminal histories, and each was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Methamphetamines, and Possession of Cocaine. Coburn was also charged with a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of an Illegal Weapon, and additional credit card abuse charges are expected against Carroll.

Carroll also had an outstanding warrant from Dallas County for tampering with government records, and Coburn had an outstanding warrant from Louisville for Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle.

The suspects were arraigned before County Judge Jack Hall last Wednesday. Carroll’s total bond was set at $22,000; Coburn’s total bond was set at $45,000; and Reeder’s total bond was set at $20,000.

“The Texas Rangers are also looking into possible additional identity theft and credit card abuse charges,” Blackburn said.

All three suspects were still in the Donley County Jail at press time.