Three men arrested in series of thefts of 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles and possession of stolen property

It began with an arrest of two men for theft of a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle with major help from a witness. But it soon blossomed into three more vehicle theft counts for one of them and the arrest of a third man on four vehicle theft counts as well as the recovery of a second stolen all-terrain vehicle and a stolen trailer, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

A witness reported seeing what seemed to be suspicious activity last weekend in Meraux, involving two men in a truck which carried a 4-wheeler, the sheriff said. The witness supplied a license plate number for the truck.

On Sunday, a 4-wheeler was reported stolen in the Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux and by Monday, based on the license plate being traced to an address in Meraux, the stolen 4-wheeler was recovered and two men were arrested, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The stolen vehicle was found at 2424 Judy Drive at the home of Michael Dupuy, 19. Dupuy was booked with theft and possession of stolen property and a second man, Kevin Magee, 19, 2711 LaPlace Drive, Chalmette, was booked with theft.

Further information developed in a follow-up investigation by sheriff’s Detective Ryan Melerine led to Tristan Eschette, 21, 1507 Schnell Drive, Arabi, where a stolen trailer was recovered at his residence.

Eschette agreed to cooperate and admitted being involved in the theft of four-wheelers and the trailer and took detectives to a wooded area near the 40 Arpent Canal at the end of Aycock Street in Arabi where one stolen four-wheeler was found. Other stolen four-wheelers may also be in an area so covered with plant growth they haven’t been located at this time, the sheriff said. The investigation is continuing.

Eschette was arrested and booked with four counts of felony theft and one count of possession of stolen property, which was the trailer at his residence.

Based on information developed, Dupuy was additionally booked with theft of three more vehicles, for a total of four counts of felony theft and one count of possession of stolen property, the four-wheeler found at his residence.

All three arrested suspects were booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison and all have now been released on bond. Eschette was released on a $45,000 property bond, while Dupuy was released on a $7,500 personal surety bond and Magee on a $10,000 personal surety bond.