FALLS CITY – A man linked to scoping out Nebraska City, Auburn and Falls City for the theft of catalytic converters was sentenced Tuesday to 40 months in prison.

Defense Attorney Allen Fankhauser said 44-year-old Lucifer Jones of St. Joseph, Mo., was not the leader of a theft crew blamed for thefts in three counties. The Richardson County Sheriff’s Office reported in February a total of 11 cases of catalytic converter theft in Richardson County alone, but Jones was not accused of involvement in all of the thefts.

Jones is charged in Nemaha County Court with theft in December of 2022.

Court records say sheriff’s deputies investigated thefts of catalytic converters from a postal vehicle that had been parked by the post office.

Jones is suspected of driving to Nebraska City and Auburn to scout out locations to steal the automotive components for metal salvage.

Judge Julie Smith said victims of the thefts suffered thousands of dollars in damage, but Richardson County Attorney Samantha Scheitel said she will not seek restitution because the costs are so high that Jones would not have ability to pay them.

Judge Smith noted that a prior probation sentence for Jones had been revoked resulting in a prison sentence. She said he knew the risks involved, but decided to commit crimes anyway.

Smith told Jones that with his record she does not expect that he will find a judge that will give him probation, if he keeps stealing things.

Smith: “If you want to stay out of prison then the way to do it is to stop breaking the law.”

Jones was sentenced to 20 months on each of two counts.

 

Booking photo from Buchanan County, Mo.