By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A Stillwater couple, whose truck allegedly matched the description of a vehicle involved in E-bike thefts, have been ordered to appear in court on July 31 on a felony charge accusing them of possessing a stolen Honda Grom motorcycle worth $2,000.
Stephanie Dawn Christopher, 46, who has also been known by the surname of Stark, and Patrick Jerome Christopher Sr., 42, were arrested at 2:28 pm on May 28 following a traffic stop by Stillwater Police Officer Miguel Najera. They were released from jail the next day on bond, court records show.
The Stillwater officer alleged in an affidavit that he was on routine patrol in the area of 6th and Country Club Road when he saw a red Ford F-150 that “matched the description of a vehicle that was sent to our department from OSU PD regarding a vehicle involved in E-bike thefts. In the bed of the truck, I observed what appeared to be a motorcycle or large bicycle being covered by a tarp.”
During a traffic stop, after a dispatcher confirmed that Stephanie Christopher, the driver, had a suspended license, “Patrick advised that there was a stolen bike in the back of the truck that they were going to return to the owner.
“I confirmed that the motorcycle in the bed of the truck being driven by Stephanie was stolen,” a 2014 Honda Grom valued at $2,000, the officer alleged in his affidavit.
“The owner of the vehicle was contacted, and he advised that neither Stephanie Christopher or Patrick Christopher were allowed to be in possession of the motorcycle,” the affidavit alleged.
According to Payne County court records, Stephanie Christopher had been placed on concurrent probationary terms in 2011 for 10 years for possessing methamphetamine in 2010, for seven years for second-degree forgery in 2009, and for two years for obtaining food stamps by false representation in 2006.
Patrick Christopher Sr. had been placed on 10 years of probation in 2022 for false personation of another in 2019 in Garfield County and five years of probation in 2017 for false declaration to a pawnbroker in 2016 in Payne County, court records show.
If convicted of possessing a stolen vehicle, the Christophers could each be given a four-year prison term and a $5,000 fine, court records show.
