By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GOSHEN TWP. - One of two Camden residents accused in the Thanksgiving theft of two horses here has been arrested and will be sent to Clermont County to answer grand theft and other felony charges.

Amee L. Burton, 33, was arrested in Preble County late Wednesday after a grand jury indicted her for her alleged role in the theft of two Arabian mares from the Dickens Hill Drive farm owned by Tim and Diana Waechter.

Ms. Burton agreed to the transfer to Clermont County in a brief hearing Thursday morning, authorities said.

Goshen Police Chief Ray Snyder said he interviewed Ms. Burton for about an hour Thursday, but declined to discuss details of the conversation.

"We had a nice talk," Chief Snyder said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Burton's alleged accomplice, Steven Lee Hall, described by police as the 26-year-old boyfriend of Ms. Burton's daughter, remained at large. He resided at the Burton residence.

Warren County authorities are unsure when or if they will file charges against Mr. Hall and Ms. Burton, who are suspects in the Dec. 5 theft of two walking horses from a farm in Waynesville. That investigation is ongoing.

All four stolen horses were tracked through sales at the Shipshewana Auction, in Indiana, where police said Mr. Hall signed his own name on paperwork to place the horses for auction. The horses were located with their new owners and returned to Ohio last weekend.

Detective Tad Oakley, of the LaGrange County, Ind., Sheriff's Department, said that he will likely pursue charges against Ms. Burton and Mr. Hall for possessing or selling stolen horses in Shipshewana.

He questioned whether authorities in Clermont and Warren counties had enough evidence to pursue their cases in Ohio because there were no eyewitnesses to the thefts.

"That is the same question I asked the (Warren County) detective Monday. Is this a theft case in Warren County or a receiving stolen property in Indiana? It's critical to understand that the charges are equivalent. So it doesn't make any difference," Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com