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Stolen kittens found with suspected monkey thieves
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1211&dept_id=169689&newsid=18550853&PAG=461&rfi=9


SEVIERVILLE - Maybe they were planning on building an ark.

Authorities now say the two Kentucky teenagers 
charged with stealing two rare monkeys from a 
Sevierville pet store were also responsible for 
stealing a pair of kittens from the Sevier County 
Animal Shelter.

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Luis David Flecha, 19, of Covington and Jessica 
Dawn Fields, 18, of Butler have been charged with 
additional counts of aggravated burglary after 
investigation by the Sevier County Sheriff's 
Department. The stolen kittens were returned to 
the shelter in good health, officials said.

"I'm glad they got the animals back," said 
Detective Mark Turner, who investigated the case.

The two suspects haven't given any reason for 
targeting the animal shelter and pet stores, he 
said. They appear to have been living at a Pigeon 
Forge hotel for some time.

Maryville police arrested Flecha and Fields after 
allegedly catching them breaking into a pet 
store. Officers found the two stolen monkeys in a 
car owned by the suspects.

Flecha and Fields are being held at the Blount 
County Jail, where they face charges for the 
break-in there. They allegedly took money from 
both the pet store and the animal shelter in 
Sevier County, in addition to stealing the 
animals.

"When they're finished in Blount County, they'll 
face the charges over here," Turner said.

Jayne Vaughn, executive director of the Sevier 
County Animal Shelter, said the kittens were 
located at the Young Williams Animal Center in 
Knoxville. Officials there took them from a hotel 
room in Knoxville, she said.

They are in good health and should be available 
for adoption by Thursday. Interested parties 
should call the Little Friends Adoption Center at 
429-5552.

"We are very grateful, and especially thankful to 
have our kittens back safe and sound," Vaughn 
said.

©The Mountain Press 2007