Pierce County Theft Ring Foiled: District Attorney

TACOMA, WA — Police are charging several individuals with more than 30 counts of burglary and other miscellaneous crimes after determining they were part of a theft ring that burgled businesses in both Pierce and King counties over several months beginning late last year, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

Five suspects were arrested at various times and each charged for their respective — and alleged — roles in the theft ring.

The two primary ring leaders are still in jail as of this report. They've been identified as Megan Richelle Abear and Michael Anthony Marchan. The three others who reportedly assisted with some of the burglaries were identified as Sharmaine Jomae James, Jonathon Ray Nesper, and Chad Douglas Franklin.

• Abear is facing 13 counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of trafficking stolen property, four counts of second-degree theft, and three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
• Marchan is facing 14 counts of burglary, two counts of trafficking stolen property, four counts of theft, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
• Franklin faces three counts of burglary, and two counts each for both theft and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
• James and Nesper both face only two counts of burglary.

According to police, the following incidents were attributed to the theft ring:

Nov. 27, 2018

Urban Timber Coffee, Microbrew & Wine, located at 6621 166th Ave. E in Sumner, reported the theft of $5,000 worth of items during a break-in. According to prosecutors for Pierce County, Marchan confessed to the break-in while Abear confessed to acting as the getaway driver.

Dec. 4, 2018

Three paint pumps worth $2,000 were stolen from the Sherwin Williams located at 12315 Meridian Ave. E in Puyallup. Surveillance video reportedly showed Marchan perform the burglary while Abear again acted as the driver. Both Marchan and Abear reportedly confessed to the crime.

Feb. 20, 2019

Two burglaries were reported in Bonney Lake at Happy Pho Time, 20829 SR-410, and Mr. Jalapeños, 21160 SR-410. Roughly $450 in cash was stolen from Happy Pho Time while between $300 and $400 was stolen from Mr. Jalapeños, prosecutors said.

Again, Marchan reportedly confessed to the break-in and Abear confessed to driving.

Feb. 27, 2019

A break-in at Sports Clip, 21260 SR-410 in Bonney Lake, resulted in the loss of just $15. Video surveillance again captured Marchan, and later he reportedly confessed he acted alone in the burglary.

Feb. 28, 2019

Video again captured Marchan perform a break-in at Platinum Mobile, located at 1416 E. Main Ave. in Puyallup. In this incident roughly $120 was stolen, prosecutors said, adding Marchan later confessed to the burglary, Abear later confessed to driving, and both told authorities that James was with them.

March 4, 2019

A safe full of cell phones was stolen from Cricket Wireless, located at 13414 Meridian E., Suite B106, in Puyallup. Later the same day, police learned Abear pawned one of the stolen phones at EcoATM.

Marchan later confessed to the break-in, telling prosecutors Franklin helped, and Abear again reportedly confessed to driving.

March 20, 2019

On this date a variety of unspecified items were stolen from All-Star Auto, located 1632 River Rd. in Puyallup. Video surveillance captured Marchan and Franklin perform the break-in, though only Marchan reportedly confessed, while Abear again confessed to driving.

March 24, 2019

In two incidents on this date, $100 was stolen from LD Nails, 6617 166th Ave. E, and thousands of dollars in copper wire was stolen from Keller Supply, 2601 142nd Ave. E. Both businesses reside in Sumner.

Marchan confessed to breaking into both businesses with Nesper, while Abear confessed to driving.

Later the same day as both burglaries, Marchan, Nesper, and Abear reportedly went to Valley Recycling and sold some of the stolen copper for more than $1,000.

March 29, 2019

Tools valued at more than $1,000 were stolen from Ferguson Enterprises, 1824 112th St. E in Tacoma. Marchan later confessed to the burglary, adding that Franklin and James remained with Abear, who was the getaway driver.

March 31, 2019

A burglary at Menchies, 10306 156th St. E in Puyallup, resulted in no loss, as the burglars accessed the cash register but didn't actually take anything, according to prosecutors. Nevertheless, Marchan confessed to the break-in and Abear confessed to driving.

April 6, 2019

Marchan and Abear reportedly headed to DuPont to burglarized unspecified items from the Verizon store at 1545 Wilmington Dr. Abear reportedly confessed to driving.

April 16, 2019

More than $400 was stolen on this date from Pho Puyallup, 12702 Meridian E. Marchan later confessed to the burglary and Abear confessed to driving, prosecutors said.

April 18, 2019

Marchan, Abear, and Franklin were arrested together. Following the group arrest, police reportedly seized heroin and cocaine from Marchan and Abear's shared room as well as from the area where Franklin was staying, authorities said. Additionally, Marchan was in possession of methamphetamine and Abear had some heroin in her purse, authorities said.

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