Nathan T. Hochthurn, 24, of Eureka has been charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor, according to court records. The incidents occurred in Eureka between Dec. 7 and Dec. 17, Eureka Police reported.
Hochthurn, formerly of Fenton, faces three felony charges for burglary in the second degree, one felony charge of stealing $750 or more, one felony charge of property damage in the first degree and a misdemeanor stealing charge.
The burglary and stealing charges each carry a maximum sentence of seven years; the property damage charge has a maximum sentence of four years and the misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000.
Hochthurn has run afoul of the law before, pleading guilty to a felony burglary charge in Jefferson County in 2015 and a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance in St. Charles in January. He is also facing a class C felony possession charge in Franklin County, stemming from a Jan. 25, 2016, incident.
Hochthurn was arrested in Eureka on Dec. 20 at an apartment complex at East Third and Beverly streets when authorities found him hiding under a couch, Eureka police said. He allegedly admitted to stealing vehicles in Jefferson County and burglaries at the Genesis Church office, Legend Country Club and former Boland Car Care in Eureka.
After he was arrested, Hochthurn was taken to St. Louis County jail where he was held while Eureka Police applied for warrants, which were issued through the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office, Lt. David Wilson said. He was being held on a $75,000 cash-only bond as of Dec. 21.
Eureka Police first became aware of Hochthurn after being called at about 2:46 a.m. Dec. 7 to 406 Main St. about an abandoned 2004 Pontiac GTO by the railroad tracks, a report said. The car had been reported stolen from Jefferson County, and when the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office processed fingerprints from the car, the Eureka Police were informed that Hochthurn was suspected of stealing the GTO, Wilson said.
At about 7:58 p.m. Dec. 7, the police were called to the Legends Country Club, 625 Legends Parkway, after a burglar alarm went off, a report said. When the police searched the club, they found a door ajar and a window had been pushed out. There were also missing food and drink items, and a 1999 Ford F250 had been rummaged through, Wilson said.
Then at about 8:15 p.m. Dec. 7, the police were called to the Genesis Church Office, 406 Main St., when someone spotted Hochthurn standing between a church van and a trailer at the rear of the building. The man, who called police, told authorities he approached Hochthurn to ask him what he was doing, and Hochthurn said he was looking for his change, Wilson said.
Hochthurn then went into the van, grabbed a backpack and left the parking lot heading east between two buildings, Wilson said. The witness identified Hochthurn after looking at a photo lineup, Wilson said.
When the pastor of the church arrived, it was discovered that the building had been broken into and a purse, wireless Bluetooth ear buds, two iPads, jewelry and a QuikTrip fleet gas card were missing, Wilson said.
Later on Dec. 7, Eureka Police were called to QuikTrip, 290 East Fourth St., when a 21-year-old Eureka man allegedly tried to use the gas card to purchase food and other items, Wilson said. The QT employee seized the card, telling the man someone from the church would need to claim it, and the man left the gas station.
The police were able to track down the 21-year-old man, who told authorities he found the card by the railroad tracks and, thinking it was a credit card, tried to use it. Wilson said the man was arrested, booked and released while authorities applied for a warrant for credit card fraud through the Eureka Municipal Court.
At the time, it was unknown whether the 21-year-old was connected to Hochthurn.
Then on Dec. 17, Eureka Police were informed of a suspicious light blue 1998 Nissan Sentra parked at the apartment complex at East Third and Beverly streets. When officers ran the plates on the Sentra, it was registered as stolen from Jefferson County, and detectives continued to monitor the car.
On Dec. 20, police made contact with the man who had tried to use the gas card, and when a woman, who also lived in the apartment, arrived, they were given permission to search the premises. That is when the police found Hochthurn, and items connected to a burglary at the former Boland Car Care, Wilson said.
While in custody, Hochthurn allegedly told police he was the one on Dec. 18 who burglarized and caused damage to the former Boland Car Care, which has been sold to QuikTrip and is scheduled to be demolished. Hochthurn allegedly told police he stole copper pipe and wire from the property. He had also knocked over oil canisters, causing the oil to mix with water that flooded the property’s basement.
Hochthurn had previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 3, 2015, to burglary in the second degree, a class C felony, for an incident in Hillsboro.
On March, 12, 2013, He had driven Joseph Hittler of Hillsboro to Hittler’s parents’ home in the 5100 block of Waters Edge Drive, Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office told the Leader in 2013. When Hittler’s parent left the home, Hittler stole a Hewlett-Packard computer, monitor and keyboard, altogether valued at $600, and Hochthurn drove Hittler and his girlfriend away from the home.
Hochthurn reportedly told deputies Hittler had asked for a ride and told him he planned to steal items from the home, according to the probable-cause statement.
Hochthurn was sentenced to five years in prison for the burglary, but the sentence was suspended he was placed on five years’ probation, court records said. He violated the probation in May 2016, and he underwent a 120-day rehabilitation program before being released on five years’ probation again.
On Jan. 23, he pleaded guilty to a class C felony possession charge in St. Charles County, and after undergoing a 120-day treatment program, he was released on five years’ probation, according to court records.
Hochthurn is still facing a class C felony possession charge in Franklin County, according to court records.