MONTICELLO, Mo.- In June of this year, the Sheriff's Office began investigating two reports of fraud in rural Canton. Two different home owners reported an individual, whom they identified as 43-year old Weston Johnson of Hannibal, had offered to trim trees on their property. The subject took partial payment and agreed to return to their properties a few days later to complete the work.

The subject immediately cashed the checks and then failed to return to complete the work. After conducting an investigation and attempting to locate Johnson, the investigation was forwarded to Lewis County Prosecutor Chelsea Fellinger, and a warrant was sought and later issued.

On Sunday, the Hannibal Police Department arrested Johnson and he was then transported to the Lewis County Jail.

Johnson is formally charged with two counts of stealing, a class D felony, and remains incarcerated in the Lewis County Jail on $10,000 cash only bond.