O'Neill Men Arrested In Three-County, $40,000 Crime Spree

Two O’Neill men were arrested in connection with a three-county burglary spree that resulted in $30,000-$40,000 in stolen property recovered last week in Holt County. They are both being held in Antelope County.

Drew W. Steskal, 25, and Amos J. Mosel, 29, were both arrested last week while  a third arrest is pending, according to the Holt County Attorney's office. Eight separate searches took place during the investigation.

According to court documents, Trooper Daniel Parker connected the two individuals with the crime spree. He arrested Steskal on August 1 for possession of methamphetamine and ignition interlock violation in Neligh. While searching the vehicle, owned by Mosel, the officer discovered a Miller 252 welder. Mosel took possession of the pickup the next day at the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office, along with the items located in the vehicle.

Parker was later requested by the Holt County Sheriff's Department to serve a search warrant in O'Neill. He "was reading the information pertaining to the Holt County search warrant" and "saw that they were looking for a stolen Miller welder along with several other items."

The welder was later identified by serial number as one that had been stolen from Holt County.

Mosel was later questioned at his residence in O’Neill where he told officers where he left the stolen welder after picking up his vehicle. Court documents allege he later made a written voluntary statement at the Holt County Sheriff’s office with a different story. The welder was located at Mosel’s parents' residence in rural Holt County.

Steskal allegedly told authorities that the welder, along with other items in the pickup at the time of his arrest, were stolen. According to documents, Steskal told authorities he and Mosel had taken the welder together from Opplinger Farms near Atkinson. The information he gave about the location and time frame of the stolen welder was correct, according to authorities.

The total amount of stolen property from the burglaries suspected to have been committed by Mosel and Steskal was at the time estimated to be valued between $30,000 and $40,000, according to court documents. Officials have said that value may increase.

Steskal was previously arrested on drug charges in 2013 and violated his probation in 2014, according to court documents. 

The current investigation was a joint effort between the Holt County Sheriff’s Department, O’Neill Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Game and Parks and Holt County Attorney’s Office.