Sheriff Says O'Neill Men Now Linked To Rock County Theft

More details have been released in the multi-county theft spree that now includes Rock County. 

Amos J. Mosel of O'Neill is being charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft by unlawful taking, both of which are Class III felonies. Mosel was held in Antelope County Jail with a bond of $75,000. He bonded out last Thursday.

Drew W. Steskal of O'Neill was also charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft by unlawful taking. He is still being held at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center on a bond of $75,000.

Mosel will appear in Antelope County Court for Arraignment on Sept. 2 at 9:30 a.m. Steskal will have a preliminary hearing on Aug. 19 in Antelope County Court at 1:30 p.m.

According to Rock County Sheriff James Anderson, on July 18 at 10:30 a.m. a theft was reported to the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. The 2011 John Deere Utility Vehicle was owned by Tim Wells. Tools and a Miller 250 welder are also among the properties allegedly stolen by the two men.  

According to court documents, Trooper Daniel Parker connected the two individuals with the crime spree following Steskal's arrest in Neligh on August 1 for possession of methamphetamine and ignition interlock violation. 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.