Police have arrested three individuals connected to a series of vehicle break-ins at Union Commonwealth University.
The Barbourville Police Department reported on Monday that officers received a complaint about multiple vehicle break-ins early Sunday morning and launched an investigation.
Later that same day, another victim came forward, stating that a firearm had been taken from his vehicle.
According to court documents, investigators learned that one of the suspected individuals dropped a cell phone while being pursued by campus security officers.
While speaking with campus security, an officer noticed a CashApp transaction on the phone linked to 18-year-old Anthony Carreras, a Florida resident.
Before going to campus to search for Carreras, officers reviewed security footage from a nearby home.
After locating Carreras, officers questioned him. He said the transaction involved 19-year-old Austin McGaughey of Lexington.
Court records show that Carreras waived his rights and was taken to campus security. He told officers that McGaughey and 18-year-old David Paez of Lawrenceville, Kentucky, had attended a house party and would return to their dorm rooms around 3 a.m.
Campus security later notified officers when the two individuals exited the building at approximately 3:05 a.m. Officers observed that they were wearing clothing believed to have been used during the thefts.
When officers and campus security approached the two, McGaughey said he had attended a party the night before and claimed someone had stolen his cell phone. Neither individual reported seeing a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, officers informed both men that they needed to speak with them and proceeded to search their dorm room. During the search, officers recovered a black firearm and a backpack that Paez allegedly used during the thefts.
Authorities then transported all three individuals to the Barbourville Police Department for questioning.
Paez admitted that he, McGaughey, and Carreras came up with what he described as a “dumb idea” to check door handles on different vehicles. He said that when he opened a pickup truck, he found a firearm and took it.
McGaughey told officers that he and Paez left their dorms to attend a party early Sunday, returned, and later went back out to check if other vehicles were unlocked. He said he ran so Paez could escape because Paez had a stolen gun.
Carreras told law enforcement that he stayed with the other two the entire time and was aware that the firearm had been stolen.
McGaughey faces one count of theft by unlawful taking/disposition of a firearm, one count of third-degree fleeing or evading police, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property.
Paez faces one count of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property and one count of theft by unlawful taking/disposition of a firearm.
Carreras faces one count of theft by unlawful taking/disposition of a firearm.
All three were arraigned on Monday, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12.
Paez and Carreras are being held at the Knox County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash bond.
WKYT searched the jail website but could not find McGaughey listed among active inmates.
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