Local Factory Burglary Turns Drug Bust

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Telling the cops you had permission, didn’t work for a Warrensburg woman and a Clinton man this past July, at a large factory building in Clinton.
Eric Kelce, 41 of Clinton pled guilty to 1st degree burglary on September 29, at his arraignment in front of Circuit Court Judge Brandon Baker at the Henry County Courthouse in Clinton.
Kelce received a suspended execution of sentence and 5 years of probation.
Kristen D. Brame, 41, charged with 1st degree burglary also, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Harold Dump on September 17, at the Henry County Courthouse in Clinton, where her attorney application and court hearings were set.
According to the probable cause statement, at midnight on July 20 police officer Michael Nelson located Brame inside a large factory building in Clinton. Law enforcement searched bags in the possession of the suspect, found to contain crystalline substance and office items. :
Additional law enforcement arrived on the scene, and located a male subject hiding in a second level service area. The man identified himself as Eric Kelce of Clinton.
According to the report, Kelce, 41, stated they had permission from the building caretaker Bruce Oaks to be inside. The suspect further stated he and Brame were collecting items for recycling.
Upon contact by law enforcement, caretaker Oakes denied giving permission to either suspect.
Police located a blue cargo wagon near the entrance, loaded with copper wire. They also observed breaker boxes and charging stations, where copper wiring had been removed.
Water heaters had also been removed and placed near the wagon.
Brame and Kelce were arrested and taken to the Henry County Jail.
Testing by the Missouri Highway Patrol crime lab showed the crystalline substance to be methamphetamine.
In addition to 1st degree burglary, Brame is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Kelce was charged with 1st degree burglary only.
She is represented by public defender Holly Griffith of Harrisonville and Kelce was represented by Casey Symonds of Lee’s Summit. Brame is released from custody on her own recognizance. Her trial, separate from Kelce’s litigation, will be held at 9 a.m. on October 8 at the Henry County Courthouse in Clinton.