EVERETT — A suspected metal thief’s legal troubles are getting heftier.
Snohomish County prosecutors in May accused Shaun Stevens of selling nearly 60 stolen catalytic converters for more than $5,600 to the Lynnwood Recycling Center. Stevens was charged with trafficking in stolen property and identity theft. He allegedly told investigators he was fencing the auto parts to feed a drug habit.
Prosecutors recently added more charges, alleging that Stevens also was behind a rash of missing metal storm drain grates and manhole covers this spring in Snohomish and King counties. Investigators reported that Stevens sold more than 20 tons of metal to two metal recycling businesses in March and April.
Stevens, 31, of Woodinville, is scheduled to be in court today to answer to five counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property. He also is being accused of selling prescription painkillers in 2009 to a police informant.
Stevens came to the attention of Bothell police in March after someone reported seeing a man under a car attempting to steal a catalytic converter. The witness provided police officers with a description of the man and a woman with him. He also gave police the license plate number of the suspect’s car. Bothell police began investigating Stevens.
Police arrested Stevens and his girlfriend March 4 when they came home in a taxi. They allegedly admitted to stealing catalytic converters, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Andrew Alsdorf wrote.
The taxi driver told police that he picked up Stevens, his girlfriend and their infant daughter. Stevens had loaded multiple mufflers into the vehicle and directed him to drive to the Lynnwood Recycling Center. Stevens and his girlfriend unloaded the parts and came back with a check and directed the driver to a bank. Then they had him drive them to a area in south Everett. They allegedly left the baby in the taxi while they purchased heroin, according to court papers.
Lynnwood Recycling’s owner told police that Stevens had set up an account under the name of a paving company. Stevens had worked for the paving company but he had been fired after it was discovered that he was using the company’s information to set up accounts at recycling centers, Alsdorf wrote.
Stevens was arrested again in April. Investigators believe he switched from boosting catalytic converters to stealing and illegally selling storm drain grates and manhole covers. A manager at Schnitzer Steel in Woodinville told police that Stevens told him that he worked for a paving company. He said a crew was doing some roadwork and replacing drainage grates, court papers said.
Records from the company showed that Stevens made nearly daily trips to the scrap metal business and was paid about $4,200 between March 9 and April 9.
Bothell police arrested Stevens on April 14. They found a receipt in his pocket from Everett Recycling. Records from that business showed that Stevens was paid about $1,200 for materials he recycled over three days, Alsdorf wrote.
Police recovered 67 grates from the business.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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