Man denies stealing and then burning truck

A Vernon Hills man on Thursday denied charges that he stole a former employer's tow truck and burned it in a Wisconsin field.

David Duncan, 30, of 890 Westmoreland Drive, Apt. 24, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and theft.

Assistant State's Attorney Reginald Matthews said that on Nov. 2 a Round Lake man reported his 2005 International tow truck had been stolen from a Mundelein auto-repair shop.

The truck's information was entered into the nationwide computer system for stolen vehicles, and on Nov. 12 the Kenosha County sheriff's office said it had found the truck.

Wisconsin police said the vehicle had been parked in a field in Twin Lakes and was destroyed when it was purposely set on fire.

The owner of the vehicle suspected Duncan, a former employee the truck owner had fired on Oct. 16.

Matthews said Duncan denied having anything to do with the theft of the truck or its destruction, but Mundelein police arrested him Jan. 18.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for May 27 and ordered Duncan to appear in court again April 30.

Matthews said Duncan faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. Additionally, Kenosha County authorities may file arson charges against him, Matthews said.