State v. Wakefield

HOGAN, Judge.

This case involves trafficking in stolen motor vehicles and parts thereof, a form of criminal activity sometimes called the operation of a “chop shop.” By four-count information filed in the Circuit Court of Reynolds County, defendant Richard D. Wakefield was charged with: I) receiving a stolen 1978 Chevrolet Monza in violation of § 570.080, RSMo 1978; 1 II) removing or defacing identifying numbers on the Monza in violation of § 301.400, now repealed; III) receiving a stolen 1977 Chevrolet pickup truck in violation of § 570.080, and IV) forging a vehicle identification number on…