By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Burton

Hall

GOSHEN TWP. - Police were trying to round up a Preble County couple Wednesday after a grand jury charged them in the Thanksgiving theft of two horses.

Steven Lee Hall, 26, and Amee L. Burton, 33, each face two counts of grand theft and a single count of breaking and entering for allegedly taking the Arabian mares from the Dickens Hill Drive farm owned by Tim and Diane Waechter.

Charged last month in the theft of a horse trailer in Butler County, Mr. Hall and Ms. Burton also are under investigation in the Dec. 5 theft of two Tennessee Walkers owned by Helge and Holly Buflod of Wayne Township in Warren County.

Warren County Sheriff's officials backed off Wednesday on their earlier statement that arrest warrants would be filed in that case this week, saying they are still "actively" investigating.

"After discussion and consultation with the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, no charges will be filed at this time," said Detective Sgt. Rick Logan.

All four horses were traced through the Shipshewana Auction near Fort Wayne, Ind., where at least one mare had been sold up to four times.

A horse taken from the Waechter farm was found with a Michigan couple who had bought the 17-year-old mare for a 4-H project for their three daughters.

The other stolen horses were found in Kentucky and Indiana and returned last weekend.

The investigation led to Mr. Hall after police discovered that he had signed his name on paperwork in Shipshewana when he put the four horses up for auction Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.

Goshen Township Chief Ray Snyder said police searched unsuccessfully late Tuesday for Ms. Burton and Mr. Hall, and also checked the Camden home they shared on Oxford-Germantown Road.

Mr. Waechter said he was confident that police would apprehend Ms. Burton and Mr. Hall.

He applauded police for helping locate Princess and Rainbow and for seeking charges quickly.

"We are thrilled to death. We went through heck for two weeks," Mr. Waechter said.

The Waechters are now trying to contact the Michigan couple to offer them a choice of two other horses or a pony to replace the horse they had to give back. Horse lovers in Ohio had offered the horses to the Waechters after Princess and Rainbow were stolen.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com