Stolen Vehicle Possession Cases Yield Felonies Against 5

ALTON – The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force has charged five local residents with felony possession of stolen vehicles and other offenses.

Shawn R. Murphey, 43, and Trina G. Skelton, 45, both of Alton, were each charged on Jan. 14, 2026 with Class 2 felony counts of offenses related to motor vehicles and Class 4 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.

The two are accused of knowingly possessing a stolen 2017 Chevrolet Trax bearing an Illinois registration number on Nov. 23, 2025. Both were additionally charged with possession of cocaine on the same date.

A petition was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office to deny Skelton’s pretrial release from custody in her case. According to the petition, after the vehicle had been reported stolen, Alton police officers used License Plate Reader cameras to track the stolen car’s path through the city before attempting a traffic stop near the intersection of Johnson and Cardinal Street.

“The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot,” the petition states. “The passenger, Shawn Murphey, who is a co-defendant, advised that he knew the vehicle was stolen and that Trina Skelton, the defendant, stole the vehicle due to having issues with the registered owner.”

Officers also reportedly found cocaine inside the vehicle, which was located “within reach of both defendants.” The state has requested Skelton remain detained pending further proceedings, citing her active warrant in a felony case from last year and her repeated failure to appear in court for multiple prior felony cases.

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Skelton was ordered remanded to jail for her initial court appearance in this case, while Murphey was granted pretrial release from custody.

Both cases were presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, which also charged three other area residents with stolen vehicle possession and other offenses on Jan. 14, 2026.

Scott H. Butler, 30, of Cottage Hills, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles and a Class 3 felony count of theft for offenses allegedly committed on Dec. 15, 2025.

Butler was allegedly in possession of a Kawasaki KWF 1000 Ridge ATV, which he knew had been stolen. He is also accused of knowingly obtaining a stolen Hoyt VYM compound bow valued at over $500 on the same date.

Mark R. Baldwin Jr., 39, listed as homeless out of Godfrey, and 36-year-old Ronald D. Wright Jr., listed as homeless out of Granite City, each face two counts of offenses related to motor vehicles, both Class 2 felonies.

Baldwin and Wright were both allegedly knowingly in possession of a stolen 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and a stolen 2023 Big Tex trailer, both with Illinois registration numbers, on Nov. 20, 2025. Wright was additionally charged with possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine at the time of the offense.

Butler, Baldwin, and Wright were each ordered to be released from custody pending trial.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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