CRIME

San Angelo man robbed ex-wife, car dealership, and own mother within days of each other

San Angelo

SAN ANGELO — David Thomas Steinbach is many things: innocent isn't one of them.

Earlier this month, Steinbach stood before 340th District Court Judge Jay Weatherby and pleaded guilty to a laundry list of felony criminal charges after a September crime spree, court records state.

The Monday dealership burglary

Shortly after midnight Sept. 17, 2018, San Angelo police answered a burglary alarm at Ray's Auto Sales on South Bryant Boulevard. Police found "the front door unsecure with signs of forced entry," according to an arrest affidavit.

"They busted a hole in the wall, stole the keys, then walked out of the front door, setting the alarm off," said Ray's General Manager Glenn McCleery in describing the scene.

Along with every key on the lot, a black 2006 Hummer H2 was reported stolen.

About 9 p.m. later that Monday, police conducted a traffic stop in the 2200 block of West Beauregard Avenue involving a 2010 GMC Sierra pickup, according to an affidavit.

The vehicle was occupied by Steinbach, another male and two females — three of them, including Steinbach, were arrested on outstanding warrants, a report stated.

Before the pickup was towed, police searched the vehicle and discovered "a white plastic bag ... in the front console area containing seven of the missing vehicle keys from Ray's Auto Sales," according to the affidavit.

After he was read his Miranda rights, Steinbach told police he was given the items by another person who "showed up at his residence with a Hummer and a bag of keys," according to the affidavit.

Steinbach "noted the keys were from Ray's Auto Sales," according to the affidavit, and told police he had known the general manager of the dealership for 14-15 years.

Steinbach told police "he was going to give the bag of keys back to McCleery," but didn't know where police could find the stolen Hummer, according to the affidavit.

Police contacted McCleery, who confirmed knowing Steinbach, but he said Steinbach had made no attempt to return the stolen keys despite having seen him twice Monday, according to the report.

After their interview with Steinbach, police found the stolen Hummer at an apartment complex near Angelo State University.

"I got everything back within 24 hours," McCleery said. "(Police) did a fantastic job."

Steinbach was charged on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and burglary of a building, a state jail felony according to the affidavit. He was booked into Tom Green County Jail on Sept. 18, and was later released on bond.

Three days later, Steinbach stole more than $46,000 from an account belonging to his ex-wife.

The Friday theft: Ex-wife 'didn't deserve' money after divorce says Steinbach

When questioned by police in the theft of more than $46,000 from an account belonging to his ex-wife, Steinbach didn't mince words.

"(Steinbach) admitted to taking the money, stating it was his ... and that the victim did not deserve half," police said, according to an affidavit.

In October 2018, Steinbach's ex-wife contacted police and accused her former husband of taking $46,611.26 out of her 401(k) account.

Police were told Steinbach allegedly called Fidelity Investments on Sept. 21, 2018, and answered personal identifying questions only Steinbach would know in order to transfer the funds out of his ex-wife's account, records state.

Police attained records from Fidelity Investments showing the transaction and transfer of funds, as well as Steinbach's final divorce decree in which his ex-wife was entitled to half of Steinbach's 401(k), according to an affidavit.

Steinbach had previously withdrawn his share of $46,611.26 in May 2018, records state.

In October 2018, investigators questioned Steinbach while he was incarcerated in Tom Green County Jail on an unrelated charge, according to the affidavit.

When questioned by investigators, Steinbach allegedly admitted to taking the money, stating that "it was his 401(k) and that (his ex-wife) did not deserve half," according to the affidavit.

Steinbach confirmed to detectives the banking account to which the money was deposited, records state.

Investigators asked Steinbach if he used his girlfriend to make the transfer over the phone. Steinbach told them a woman incarcerated in jail completed the call for him but did not provide her identity, according to an affidavit

Steinbach was indicted on charges of second degree felony theft and booked into Tom Green County Jail, according to online court records.

The Tuesday fraud case

On Sept. 25, 2018, San Angelo police arrived at a residence in the 3400 block of Sequoia Circle where they met with Steinbach's mother, according to an affidavit.

Steinbach's mother accused her son of using the routing and account number from her personal checking account to pay his personal bills without her knowledge or consent.

She told police that while reconciling her bank account she discovered that over a short period of time, Steinbach had made a total of nine unauthorized transactions to pay his credit card and mobile phone bill, according to an affidavit.

The total amount Steinbach took from his mother totaled $1,771.98, court documents state.

Steinbach was charged with fraud, a state jail felony.

By late March, Steinbach was in Tom Green County Jail in lieu of $27,500 bond on charges that include burglary of building, theft of service between $30,000 - $150,000, theft of property between $30,000 - $150,000, fraud, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, records state.

Steinbach received prison sentence on five charges

On April 11, 2019, Steinbach pleaded guilty to five charges in a plea agreement and was sentenced by Weatherby to:

Burglary of a building: 400 days state jail, $180 restitution
Fraud: 400 days state jail
Possession of a controlled substance: 2 years prison, $180 restitution
Possession of a controlled substance: 2 years prison, $180 restitution
Theft: 6 years prison

Steinbach's sentences will be served concurrently, according to court documents.

MORE CRIME: Two arrested in burglary and murder in San Angelo threatened several others not to talk

Multimedia journalist John Tufts often covers crime and courts news. Have a story you'd like him to follow? Send an email to John.Tufts@GoSanAngelo.com. Submit news tips to News@GoSanAngelo.com. Consider supporting locally driven journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.