photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

Peter James Rutherford

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies have apprehended a suspect who is accused of stealing a large number of tools from an area barn.

The suspect, Peter James Rutherford, 55, of Lawrence, is facing a felony burglary charge after the alleged theft in rural Douglas County, according to court documents.

A burglary report was made Friday night for a large number of tools that were stolen in the 1100 block of East 2000 Road, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman George Diepenbrock.

Deputies investigating the report identified a suspect who was seen driving in the area around 4:30 p.m. Saturday and pulled the suspect over for an expired license tag, Diepenbrock said. After seeing what they believed to be the stolen goods in plain view in the suspect’s vehicle, they arrested him.

Rutherford was later booked into the Douglas County Jail and held on a $15,000 bond. He bonded out on Monday.

Rutherford has a history of theft in Douglas County. He was sentenced by Judge Sally Pokorny to 14 months in prison in 2020 for attempted aggravated burglary, according to court records. He was sentenced again in February to 20 months for identity theft. That sentence was suspended to probation.

Rutherford remains free on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4 to face charges of burglary and a probation violation.