Vehicle Related Theft Case Against Newton Man Dismissed

A 51 year old Newton man accused of hiding the whereabouts of a stolen vehicle has had the case against him dismissed. In Late May…Newton Police charged Micheal Clay Pearson with 2nd Degree Theft. The victim who reported her car stolen May 27th, told police she thought Pearson knew where the vehicle was. The arrest report says an Officer then spoke with Pearson, who said the car was locked in a garage, and that he put it there at the request of another woman. The police report also noted the key to the vehicle was recovered from Pearson’s pocket. However…Assistant Jasper County Attorney Anthony Leon filed a motion to dismiss the charge against Pearson, due to a lack of evidence to support a conviction  beyond a reasonable doubt. District Associate Judge Steven Holwerda has granted the dismissal motion.