Gun theft results in warrant for Bloomfield woman

HARTINGTON – A Bloomfield woman is wanted on a felony burglary charge after she allegedly stole a gun from a Magnet residence.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Taylor Janis, 31, in connection with the incident in September in which witnesses reported seeing her in the Magnet area and law enforcement purport her cell phone data pinpoints her in the area at the time of the crime.

Janis denied stealing the gun when confronted by law enforcement.

A day after it was stolen, the gun was found laying on the porch at the alleged victim’s residence.

Along with a felony burglary charge, Janis also faces a misdemeanor theft charge.

In other court news: - Phelan Schwager, 36, Randolph, will face another felony charge after he allegedly assaulted another inmate at the Cedar County Jail. A preliminary hearing on the new charge was set for mid-January.

He’s currently incarcerated on a number of felony charges including theft and criminal mischief on suspicion of copper wire thefts from area pivot irrigation systems. A search of his Randolph residence in the theft case allegedly turned up possession of methamphetamine, a stolen firearm and motorcycle, which lead to other charges being filed against him.

- Austin Warburton, 19, Laurel, appeared in Stanton County Court and waived a preliminary hearing on a felony charge of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. Three other charges, misdemeanor and infraction driving-related offenses, were dismissed in the case. He is set for arraignment on Jan. 8.

Warburton was driving a motorcycle when he reportedly fled a traffic stop in Wayne County near Hoskins Oct. 19. A pursuit was initiated but Warburton continued to flee at high rates of speed and at times driving against oncoming traffic. The motorcycle was eventually abandoned and Warburton fled on foot. About 45 minutes after the initial traffic stop, he was apprehended.

- Three dangerous dog infractions filed against Kandice Cooke, Randolph, were dismissed with prejudice in Cedar County Court, meaning charges cannot be refiled. Cooke challenged Randolph’s pitbull ordinance all the way to federal court, claiming her dog was an emotional support animal.

Cooke and the City of Randolph recently came to an agreement to allow her to keep the dog and the