PLATTE CITY, MO (KCTV) -
An attempt to solve a motorcycle theft ring led to charges involving guns, drugs and child endangerment at a property near Weatherby Lake.
James R. Winkler, 28, was charged with misdemeanor crimes of child endangerment, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and the felony crime of being a habitual drug user in possession of a firearm.
Kansas City police went to his Northland home at 18375 Jones-Meyer Rd. in early August after following a man on a motorcycle that was listed as stolen.
Police said that motorcycle, driven by 24-year-old Corey Reiling, and another located on the property had their vehicle identification numbers scratched off and matched descriptions of sport bikes that had been stolen. They also found a commercial lawn mower that had been reported stolen.
What seemed to concern police even more, however, was what they found inside the home. A court affidavit stated, "A black High Point Carbine assault rifle was leaning upright next to a bed within feet of where Reiling was apprehended, which was within reach of the child at the scene. The weapon had a magazine in it and was loaded with live ammunition."
They also saw a woman at the home throw a blanket on the couch "attempting to cover up a glass meth pipe."
They documented two revolvers, two pistols, two shotguns, two rifles and 20 toy or fake guns, which they said were hard to distinguish from the real ones.
Neighbors, who did not want to identify themselves, said they alerted police earlier in the summer after hearing what sounded like machine gun fire. The neighbor giving that description proudly displayed his National Rifle Association membership on his pickup but took issue with the kind of firepower he heard being used.
When police confronted Winkler about his 6-year-old son having access to those weapons, he allegedly told police he was unconcerned. He said his 6-year-old knew how to shoot.
The court affidavit quotes Winkler as saying, "I told him anybody comes through that door you don't know and they have a weapon, buddy, if you can get to it, get to it and drop them. And don't ever stop until you empty the clip."
Winkler told police he was a habitual drug user and did not intend to change his way of life. It was a statement that prompted the user in possession charge.
He did, however, clarify that the meth pipe belonged to a visitor at the home, and said his drug use was confined to marijuana. He also denied any connection to the stolen property. He said the child endangerment charge was unfounded and that a social worker told him as much.
"We've already had those charges taken care of," Winkler said, soon after showing his middle finger. "They've already sent us a letter saying there was no harm done or anything."
KCTV5 found no court filings to that effect.
Two others are also charged in connection to this case.
Emily Danner, 23, is charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and child endangerment.
Reiling faces four counts of receiving stolen property, involving three motorcycles and a commercial lawn mower.
As for the motorcycles, police say they only found a handful but saw the number of thefts dip significantly after making contact with the three people at Winkler's home.
They counted two thefts or attempts up north in the month after that contact, compared to 26 in the northland in the three months before, what amounts to about nine each month on average.
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