CHESTER, Ill. – Randolph County Sheriff, Jarrod Peters has announced the arrest of a Chester, Illinois resident, in connection with multiple theft and burglary cases.
On Tuesday afternoon, October 10th, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year- old James D. Marlen at his residence in Chester.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation September 6th, 2023, into an alleged burglary case from August 2023. As a result, the Sheriff’s Office was able to develop leads on several open but unsolved theft and burglary cases throughout Randolph County.
On Monday, October 2nd, 2023, Sheriff’s Deputies along with Chester Police Officers executed search warrants at two locations in the Chester area.
Investigators located and recovered physical and digital evidence connecting Marlen to as many as 16 burglaries in Randolph County, from August 2019 to present.
Marlen is currently being held in the Randolph County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.
Charges are as follows:
Burglary, six counts of theft, and possession of a weapon with a revoked FOID card.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate and attempt to locate several stolen items that Marlen may have sold. Sheriff Peters is urging anyone with information pertaining to this case, contact his Office at 618-826-5484 ext. 507 or via the Randolph County Tip-line at 618-826-2712.
“I would like to thank our law enforcement partners at the Chester Police Department for their assistance with this investigation” – Sheriff Peters.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.