Man in grease theft case faces new charges, will go to trial

photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Byron P. Aston

A defendant accused of stealing grease will go to trial later this year, and he now faces additional charges — also related to grease theft.

Byron Parker Aston, 28, of Springfield, Mo., and a co-defendant were arrested in February, and each was charged with one count of theft after investigators for an international company reportedly got video of the men stealing grease from bins behind restaurants on Massachusetts Street and contacted Lawrence police.

Aston is now charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly trying to steal grease and a grease tank from Darling Ingredients Inc. on Friday, and he made his first court appearance in the second case on Monday.

He is also charged with criminal use of weapons for allegedly selling, manufacturing, purchasing or possessing either a sawed-off shotgun or an automatic weapon. He is additionally charged with driving with a suspended license.

As the Journal-World previously reported, grease theft is a problem similar to theft of scrap metal. The crime has emerged nationwide in the past decade as demand grows for biodiesel and other products that can be made from cooking oil.

According to the charges in the new case, the alleged crimes occurred Friday, the day Aston was due in court for a preliminary hearing in his first case. Aston was booked into Douglas County Jail on Friday and released on bond Saturday, according to the jail’s booking log.

Aston’s former co-defendant — Chad A. Johnson, another Springfield, Mo., man who was 26 at the time of his arrest in February — has submitted a diversion agreement to the district attorney’s office, said Dorothy Kliem, trial assistant with the DA’s office, via email Monday. With successful completion, diversion allows defendants to avoid a conviction.

Previously, Johnson told the Journal-World he was “at the wrong place at the wrong time” and had nothing to do with the grease theft.

Aston is scheduled for trial in the first case at 9 a.m. Nov. 6, Kliem said.

Previous coverage

• March 31, 2019: Under cloak of night, thieves following national trend target something gross in downtown Lawrence alleys: used grease

Contact Mackenzie Clark

Have a story idea, news or information to share? Contact public safety reporter Mackenzie Clark:

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