Suspect in gun thefts jailed

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

An Overland Park man was jailed April 26 on charges that stem from Jan. 1 burglaries of eight vehicles in Marion.

Colten E. Brady, 27, was identified by police about a month after the string of burglaries.

He formally was charged March 30 with four counts of burglary of a vehicle, two counts of burglary of a vehicle for theft of a firearm, and three counts of theft. An arrest warrant was issued April 3.

Johnson County authorities notified the sheriff’s office three days later that Brady was in custody there and a detainer had been placed on him.

Brady made his first appearance in court April 26, the day after he arrived in Marion County.

McPherson lawyer Gary Price was appointed Monday to represent Brady, who was released on $15,000 surety bond.

His preliminary examination is scheduled for June 9.

Brady also faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement in Morris County, where he is scheduled for preliminary hearing June 26.

At the time of the thefts in Marion, a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver were stolen from vehicles owned by Anthony resident Noah Albin and Jandee Kruse. Both vehicles were parked at 819 Birch St.

Two credit cards, a driver’s license, $100 in cash, a makeup bag, and a Coach wallet were stolen from a vehicle owned by Jillian Edmundson. The credit cards were used at Casey’s in Marion and at Walmart, McDonald’s, and Flying J in Emporia. A total of $2,026.55 was charged to the cards.

Vehicles owned by Alan Kruse, Ryan Edmundson, and Audrey Pavlu also were burglarized, and a set of keys was stolen from Pavlu’s car.

A female suspect also was sought in the Marion burglaries. No charges have yet been filed against her.

Kansas Department of Corrections lists Brady as an absconder from community corrections in Johnson County, where he was sentenced Aug. 1, 2019, for felony criminal damage to property.