LINCOLNTON, N.C. - Two individuals are facing charges after detectives investigate a theft ring where businesses and individuals were targeted in Denver and surrounding areas.

Detectives with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit arrested two subjects from Charlotte Thursday, July 11, 2024, after identifying them as suspects in several cases involving the theft of trucks, trailers, a side by side, a zero-turn lawnmower, and an attempted theft of a motorcycle.

Four separate cases were solved linking the two subjects. In one case deputies recovered a stolen truck from Charlotte in Denver.  In another case detectives recovered an enclosed trailer, stolen from Denver, at an address in Charlotte along with two stolen trucks from Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. In a third case detectives were able to identify the same subjects as being responsible for an attempted theft of a motorcycle in Denver. According to detectives both subjects were involved in all three cases. 

In a fourth case, the female suspect nearly struck a deputy with a stolen truck she was operating after the deputy encountered her at a business located near the 400 block of Atwater Ln. in Denver. A brief pursuit ensued before deputies had to stop the chase due to traffic conditions and the safety of the public. The truck was later recovered by detectives at an address in Charlotte.

On Friday, July 12, 2024, LCSO Major Crimes Unit detectives recovered additional items stolen from these cases, including a zero-turn mower, in Pageland, SC.  An attachment for the mower was recovered after detectives located it at a business in Matthews, NC.  The attachment and mower were returned to the owner on Monday, July 15, 2024.

William Alexander Munoz-Pineda, 23, of Charlotte, was charged with two felony counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, three counts of Felony Larceny, one felony count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, and one felony count of Attempted Larceny of Motor Vehicle. Munoz-Pineda received a total of $60,000 secured bond after appearing before a district court judge.

Laura Bell Redden, 24, of Charlotte, was charged with one felony count of Attempted Larceny of Motor Vehicle.  Redden received a $5,000 secured bond.  Redden is also facing charges of two felony counts of Larceny of Motor Vehicle, three felony counts of Felony Larceny, and one felony count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on Law Enforcement. Redden has not yet been served on those charges but remains in jail under a secured bond.