Husband and wife charged with stealing life vests

A husband and wife are accused of pawning stolen life vests and breaking into a vehicle to take a gun. Jonathan Kessler faces a felony theft charge, along with five misdemeanors that include criminal mischief and four counts of criminal trespass to vehicles.

Jennifer Kessler faces an accountability to felony theft charge, along with five misdemeanors that include accountability to criminal mischief and four counts of criminal trespass to vehicles. They were scheduled to make their initial appearances on Thursday.

According to court documents, The Cascade County Sheriff's Office received a report of a stolen gun and missing life vests on May 9. A witness saw a male and female suspect driving a truck that matched the description of the Kesslers' vehicle in the area on May 8, documents say.

Court reports also say Kessler pawned nine life vests later that evening. During an interview with deputies, both defendants reportedly confessed to stealing property from three different boats. The report says both admitted to going back to the property after dark for the gun and breaking a truck window to gain access.

The damage was estimated at $573 and the stolen property totaled $1880, according to charging documents.

The state requested bond be set at $5,000 for each defendant.