Woman charged for drugs and stealing, pawning jewelry - Journal Times
RACINE — A Racine woman has been charged with several felonies after allegedly stealing jewelry to pawn it, as well as possessing heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Jana L. Mehevic, 29, of the 3600 block of River Bend Drive in Racine is charged with burglary of a building or dwelling, a class F felony; theft of movable property, a class G felony; operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, a class I felony; possession of narcotic drugs, a class I felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
According to two separate criminal complaints:
On Feb. 25, a Racine police officer was dispatched to the 1700 block of North Main Street for a reported theft. The victim said that on the previous day, she noticed her jewelry was missing and was then told her son’s girlfriend, identified as Jana Haines — also known as Jana Mehevic — had taken the jewelry and pawned it. She said the jewelry was worth approximately $30,000 to $40,000.
A person from a local pawn shop confirmed that Mehevic had been in the store multiple times between Feb. 14 and Feb. 23 to sell gold jewelry. In further speaking with the person from the pawn shop, the officer learned that Mehevic had driven to the shop in a new silver Jeep Cherokee belonging to the jewelry’s owner.
The owner of the home said she discovered Mehevic was staying in her basement without her consent on Feb. 23 and told Mehevic she was not welcome.
Mehevic was taken into custody on April 9, after Caledonia Police received a report from Mehevic’s sister, who was concerned that Mehevic was ripping people off by selling them blank gift cards for cash.
An officer later located Mehevic in a light blue car at Infusino’s Restaurant on Rapids Drive in Racine.
Upon searching her and the vehicle, police found drug paraphernalia as well as heroin.
Also in the car was Garry Price, 31, of the 9300 block of Florence Drive in Sturtevant.
Price was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing an officer, both misdemeanors.
The criminal complaint shows that Price has been convicted for battery twice, in 2010 and 2011. He was also convicted twice in 2014 of operating while intoxicated.
Mehevic was previously convicted of resisting or obstructing an officer in 2014, felony forgery in 2010, misdemeanor hit and run in 2010 and felony keeping a drug house in 2010.
Mehevic’s pre-trial conference in the theft case is set for 3:15 p.m. on May 17 at the Law Enforcement Center at 717 Wisconsin Ave.
A preliminary hearing in the drug and burglary cases is set for 8:30 a.m. on April 19 at the same location.
A status conference in Price’s case is set for 8:30 a.m. on June 4, also at the Law Enforcement Center.
Both Mehevic and Price were in custody at the Racine County Jail as of Wednesday evening.
