Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Katherine Payne, 42, and Michael Norgord, 46, were booked into jail on drug and theft charges after allegedly stealing a van from an incarcerated man.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Just because someone is in jail doesn’t mean they’re not protected by the law.
What probably seemed like an easy mark ended up being the downfall of a Central couple who reportedly burglarized the residence of a man while he was incarcerated in the Graham County Adult Detention Facility. A subsequent investigation not only found multiple stolen items but also yielded a cache of drugs, including 817 counterfeit oxycodone pills with fentanyl and some methamphetamine, and the arrest of the couple.
Michael Norgord, 46, and Katherine Payne, 42, were both arrested and booked into jail on Feb. 27 on charges of theft, trafficking in stolen property, burglary in the second degree, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police were first informed of the van on Feb. 24 when the inmate’s 15-year-old son and a family friend went with a Graham County Sheriff’s deputy and a Pima Police officer to Norgord and Payne’s residence at 2609 Bigler Avenue for a civil standby. The son and family friend informed police that the couple had stolen the van from the inmate’s residence in Pima. However, at that time, Norgord and Payne reportedly refused to return the van, and law enforcement advised that the inmate would have to file a report before further action could be taken.
The inmate then filed a report that evening, and the following day a Pima Police officer investigated further and learned in addition to the van the inmate was also missing TVs, jewelry, and tools, including a welder, skill saw, and a flatbed trailer.
The Pima officer then interviewed Norgord and Payne at their residence. They denied burglarizing the house and said the inmate had told Payne to pick up the van. She then reportedly offered the keys to the officer and said to give them to whoever was authorized to drive it. The couple added that they did pick up some tools they saw out in the open because they looked valuable and didn’t think they should be lying out in the open. They said all the tools they took were in the van and once again denied stealing any other items, such as the TVs and jewelry.
Police then received a search warrant for Norgord’s and Payne’s residence and returned. While an officer was taking Payne into custody he saw a meth pipe with drug residue. Norgord allegedly admitted that there were fentanyl pills in the house, and that prompted police to write an additional warrant for any drugs located.
The following search yielded 817 fentanyl pills, a small amount of methamphetamine, and various pieces of drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale with drug residue, a glass pipe, and nine packets of suboxone strips.
Officers also located the stolen TVs, and other items missing from the victim’s residence.
When questioned after the find, Norgord and Payne both allegedly admitted to stealing the items from the victim’s house, and Norgord allegedly admitted to selling fentanyl pills.
After the scene was processed, Norgord and Payne were booked into jail and the missing van was given to the victim’s friend to return to his home.
