Five Rock Springs women are in custody on a variety of burglary, theft, and conspiracy charges stemming from a residential break-in west of Rock Springs last month.
Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell identified the five as Rebecca Lynn Peden, 47, her daughters Ashley Peden, 19, and Nicole Peden, 21, Shannon Kae Gomez, 46, and 25-year-old Cassondra Marie Gomez.
On the afternoon of May 2, a burglary at a residence west of Rock Springs was reported. A neighbor witnessed the burglary and told investigating deputies that she saw two females in a silver SUV commit the break-in and leave the residence carrying “something covered in a red or red plaid blanket.”
The victim reported that a safe containing “three guns, ammunition, and some collectible coins” was missing.
Working with information obtained from the victim, deputies and county detectives followed up on the vehicle description and found the silver SUV, a Dodge Durango, at an address on Fairview Lane, north of Rock Springs.
A number of suspects were identified, located, and interviewed, and county officers subsequently recovered the stolen safe, the three handguns, a quantity of ammunition, and several coins at a home in Rock Springs.
As described in court documents, the charges in the case are broken down as follows:
Ashley Peden: Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Aggravated Burglary, and Theft
Nicole Peden – Conspiracy to Commit Burglary
Rebecca Peden – Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Accessory Before the Fact
Cassondra Gomez – Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Burglary
Shannon Gomez – Conspiracy to Commit Burglary
All five are scheduled for an initial appearance in Circuit Court in Green River Wednesday morning.