POCATELLO, ID — A 32-year-old Pocatello man with a felony record is facing new grand theft charges after police discovered a trove of stolen property in his vehicle during a probation search.
Evan Farrell was arrested Thursday afternoon after Pocatello police assisted a felony probation officer in searching Farrell’s vehicle around 3:30 p.m. The search uncovered a large number of recently reported stolen items, according to court records and police statements obtained by the Idaho State Journal.
Inside Farrell’s trunk, officers found a folder containing vehicle registration and insurance documents belonging to multiple people — including a woman whose car had recently been stolen. The discovery prompted a full vehicle inventory, with police laying out the items across the pavement due to the volume of property.
Recovered items include:
A white Niner bike reported stolen from Idaho State University
A teal bicycle
Multiple bike wheels with Maxxis tires
Tools including bolt cutters and a red toolbox
Speakers, a subwoofer, backpacks, and knives
A large axe, hard hat, slabs of polished petrified wood
A Union Pacific switch key
Numerous unopened retail items
Police identified at least three victims, one of whom was relieved to have multiple stolen storage unit keys returned.
Farrell told officers a person named “Sunny” gave him the items to sell so he could pay rent. However, he failed to provide any verifiable information.
He was arrested and charged with two felony counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor for theft by possession. Court records indicate some stolen items exceeded $1,000 in value.
Farrell was arraigned Friday before 6th District Magistrate Judge Carol “Tippi” Jarmon, and his bond was set at $25,000. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on September 11, where prosecutors will present evidence to move the case to district court.
Farrell was previously convicted in 2021 of felony grand theft and drug possession. He had been on felony probation and was paroled in March 2024 after serving part of a suspended seven-year sentence.
Due to his criminal history, prosecutors intend to pursue a persistent violator enhancement, which could add five years to life in prison to any sentence he receives if convicted.
