Staff Report
PIERCETON — Three men from Warsaw are facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing a golf cart from Pierceton and selling it.
Daven Paul Gasaway, 27, 5774 N. 2nd St., Warsaw, is charged with auto theft, a level 6 felony; and auto theft with a prior conviction, a level 5 felony.
Brandon Edward Tyrell Rocha, 43, 711 N. Side Drive, Warsaw, is charged with fraud where the loss is between $750 and $50,000, auto theft, and theft where the value of the property is between $750 and $50,000, all level 6 felonies.
Frank Thomas Rocha, 44, 711 N. Side Drive, Warsaw, is charged with fraud where the loss is between $750 and $50,000, and aiding, inducing, or causing theft where the value of the property is between $750 and $50,000, both level 6 felonies.
On Sept. 22, 2023, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of a golf cart being stolen in Pierceton. A woman said her red golf cart was taken from her campsite and that she last saw the cart on Sept. 19, 2023.
On Sept. 27, 2023, Silver Lake’s town marshal inspected a golf cart at a residence and noticed glue residue from removed stickers on the golf cart. He also noticed a stamped number on the golf cart’s frame rail, which was different from the provided VIN on the bill of sale.
When the marshal discovered the golf cart was reported stolen, the person in possession of the golf cart said its seller brought the golf cart to him and that he purchased it for $3,000.
On Oct. 3, 2023, a KCSO detective interviewed a man who said he talked with Frank and Brandon about the golf cart. He said Brandon told him he had a golf cart for sale and arranged for Brandon to meet with the person who eventually purchased the golf cart from the Rochas.
The detective spoke with the Rochas on Oct. 4, 2023. Frank said he went with Brandon to pick up the money for the golf cart on Sept. 24, 2023. He said Brandon made a bill of sale and that he signed the document with a false name as a witness.
Brandon said he met with Gasaway a few days before Sept. 24, 2023. Gasaway allegedly asked Brandon to pick up a golf cart at a local storage unit. Brandon said he and Frank sold the golf cart, and admitted to creating a bill of sale with a false name because he couldn’t find the golf cart’s VIN and believed the golf cart was stolen.
A search warrant was granted for Brandon and Gasaway’s Facebook accounts on Oct. 27, 2023. In social media conversations, Brandon and Gasaway discussed stealing items and “taking a nice golf cart.”
Gasaway has a prior conviction for auto theft in Elkhart County from July 2021.
A warrant was issued for Frank’s arrest on May 22, 2024.
Brandon was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on May 24, 2024.
Gasaway has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Monday, June 3, 2024, in Kosciusko Superior Court Two.
