Two Springfield men charged for stealing bucket truck worth $32k

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Two men from Springfield have been charged with felony stealing after they stole a bucket truck to make money for tree trimming services.

According to court dockets, Joe Jones, born 1972, and Ronald Jones, born 1970, have been charged with stealing $25,000 or more.

The probable cause statement says the victim rented a bucket truck worth $32,000 from General Rental Center in January of 2024. The victim rented this lift so Ronald and Joe could trim trees on his property.

The victim allowed Ronald and Joe to borrow the lift for "one day" so that they could complete a different job under the promise of them paying the victim for the rental.

However, after Ronald and Joe had not returned the lift on the agreed date, the victim was unable to contact either one of them, the statement says.

On Feb. 7, 2025, a Greene County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) deputy responded to a call of the bucket truck being left on somebody's property. It was confirmed to be the same bucket truck from Joe and Ronald's case from the serial number.

The truck was found damaged, and a homeowner showed the GCSO deputy that she paid Joe for tree trimming services, per the statement.

The lift was totaled due to the extent of damages, including several major dents and buttons missing from the control panel, the statement says.

Joe and Ronald are due in court on Aug. 15. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison.