Suspects in local thefts arrested in Colorado

Four suspects wanted in connection with several rural burglaries in Cheyenne County were arrested Thursday in Edgewater, Colo.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a home in Dalton where it was known that two of the suspects, Sean Gdowski and Martika Biggart, were residing. Authorities sought the warrant after allegedly finding some items linked to at least one recent rural burglary in trash from their residence.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on their residence on Jan. 29, according arrest warrant affidavits. Officials reportedly found many items inside the home which were previously reported stolen including air compressors and cordless drills.

The Cheyenne County Sheriff’s office issued arrest warrants for 22-year-old Biggart and 34-year-old Gdowski on Feb. 3. Gdowski was arrested for theft by receiving stolen property, attempted possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone and possession of a controlled substance, all felonies. Biggart was taken into custody for theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies as well.

During the search, law enforcement allegedly found evidence that Brandon Terry, 27, and Anne Marie Preston, 26, were also living at the residence. One of the bedrooms in the residence contained links to Preston and Terry such as mail and credit cards.

The sheriff’s office issued arrest warrants for Terry and Preston on Feb. 11 for attempted possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school zone and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.

Additional drug paraphernalia and mail addressed to Terry were found in the initial trash search, according to the reports.

Investigators reportedly found many drug-related items in the residence, including syringes, bongs and a rubber tourniquet. Glass pipes found at the scene tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine, the reports alleged.

Law enforcement officials suspect that all those living in the home were involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine based on many items found in the home. These items included various sizes of baggies and a digital scale both known to be commonly used for packaging and weighing different amounts of the drug.

This suspicion is corroborated by an earlier sale of methamphetamine from Gdowski to a confidential informant.

Law enforcement reportedly received information from the Littleton, Colo. police department that an Ann Marie Leedean Preston was convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine in October 2013 in Colorado. This person is believed to be the same individual who inhabited the residence in Dalton.

She is still on probation in Colorado.

The investigation leading up to the arrests was a collaborative effort involving work from the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, the Sidney Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group task force. Information discovered through this investigation led local law enforcement to the location and arrest of all four suspects last week, according to Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson.

“Thanks to all the public input we’ve received and to the media for getting it out there,” Jenson said. “It took a lot of hard work from a lot of people.”

This investigation into the burglaries is still ongoing, Jenson added.