Angleton man arrested for youth fair burglary
Three Wharton County men also arrested for drugs, but investigators say fair had few incidents overall
By BRENDA SOMMER news@journal-spectator.com

A 20-year-old Angleton man is in jail after being nabbed in the Wharton County Youth Fair parking lot by the man whose property he allegedly was trying to steal.

According to Wharton County Sheriff's Lt. Danny Marek, a Boling man had parked two pickup trucks and a combination livestock/living trailer in the parking lot of the Wharton County Youth Fair.

Around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, the man and his friends were visiting close to the vehicles when someone pointed out there was a person in one of the victim's trucks.

"He walked over and saw a (man) sitting in the driver's side of his vehicle," Marek said.

"Then he got closer and saw him collecting loose change from the center console and putting it in a clear plastic bag."

The truck owner asked the man what he thought he was doing, and the alleged burglar began to run away.

"The owner caught him and held him until security arrived," Marek said.

"All this happened within a matter of seconds."

The alleged burglar, Quade Evan Chambless, allegedly first went into the unlocked living quarters of the trailer, where the owner had hidden his truck keys and wallet, before proceeding to the pickup's cab.

"He and his wife found the trailer in disarray - their belongings were strewn all about," Marek said.

"Also, their digital camera was missing."

Deputies report Chambless allegedly had the camera, wallet and its contents on him when he was apprehended.

Deputy Jim Staude responded to the burglary, as did off-duty Sgts. Wally Rodriguez and Tommy Johnson Jr., who were working security at the fair that night.

Chambless was booked into Wharton County Jail on Tuesday night on charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, burglary of a habitation and public intoxication.

He was held on $60,500 bond as of Friday morning.

Marek said the fair has had few serious criminal matters occur this year, but did note three men were arrested for possession of marijuana Thursday night.

Thomas Vincent Garcia, 19, of 312 Forest Lawn in Wharton, Shelley James Lewis Jr., 18, of 161 S. Klatt in Boling and Preston Dayvault Shannon, 20, of 1206 Crestmont in Wharton each had bond set at $1,000 each after each was charged with possession of marijuana.

"I would like to plug the decision by the Wharton County Youth Fair and our department in actively having folks in marked and unmarked units," Marek said.

"Back when I was on patrol, we had 20 to 30 break-ins during the fair," Marek continued.

"In the last couple years since we started taking these countermeasures, we've had very, very few problems - you can count them on one hand."