Joseph Lewis of Steelville was arrested and charged with stealing - motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft, prior offender, a class B felony, and first degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a class D felony charge.

“(Lewis) located the keys to a 2014 Mazda CX5 in the parking lot of (the 500 block of) Cheryl Drive, which was lost by the victim around Nov. 2, 2025. The defendant kept the keys to the Mazda in his possession, waiting to see if anything happened with the vehicle or if it was moved,” said Captain Lauren Adams, Potosi Police Department.

He was seen at 4:21 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2025, entering the vehicle after asking Jeremy Coleman to follow him, so he could “drop a vehicle off at a family member’s house and give him a ride back.” The vehicle was recovered at 4 p.m. that day by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office. 

Lewis is a prior and persistent offender on both counts and “is punishable by sentence to an extended term of imprisonment” equal to a class A and class C felony. He was found guilty of multiple felonies at different times, such as receiving stolen property, property damage, resisting arrest, etcetera.

At his initial appearance on Jan. 11, bond was set for $30,000 cash only. Lewis was also given house arrest with GPS monitoring, and is not allowed to possess weapons or drive any automobiles.

An arraignment hearing was held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 13, where Lewis appeared in custody via video conference, and a plea of not guilty was entered. He is due in Judge Tony Dorsett’s Division 3 courtroom at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20 in Washington County’s 24th Circuit Court for a bond reduction hearing.