Second auto dealership burglar sentenced

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook woman arrested in connection with the 2011 burglaries of McCorkle Motors, Quality Irrigation and Stockman's Feed & Supply was sentenced last Monday to prison time for her part in the crimes. The woman, 36-year-old Tammy J. Knight (Wells), received 4-5 years in prison during a sentencing hearing in Red Willow County District Court and was given credit for 239 days already served.

Knight accepted a plea agreement in June that admitted guilt to one Class III felony burglary charge, she had originally been charged with six felony counts including two counts of burglary, one count of aiding in conception of a felony and three counts of theft by receiving stolen property.

Her accomplice, 36-year-old Happ E. Wells, was sentenced in June to 32-36 years in prison, his sentencing was enhanced by an escape attempt that occurred in Frontier County.

The couple were arrested at their McCook home after McCook Police Department investigators followed a trail of evidence that resulted in the recovery of an abundance of stolen items from multiple burglaries in McCook and the Oberlin, Kansas, area.

Wells was linked to McCook burglaries at McCorkle Motors, Quality Irrigation, the Frenchman Valley Farmers Co-op at Perry and two break-ins at Stockman's Feed & Supply, in addition to either being involved or receiving stolen items from several burglaries in the Oberlin, Kansas, area. The Oberlin area burglaries included the Oberlin School District, Decatur Co-op, Reeves Seedhouse and Southwest Implement of Oberlin.