SAN ANTONIO – Jovante Stokes, 22, who already is in jail related to his arrest in the robbery of a Whataburger restaurant, now faces charges in an elaborate car theft scheme.
An arrest warrant affidavit said that Converse police believe he stole a vehicle from a car lot, then registered it in his own name and obtained insurance for it.
The affidavit said that Stokes went to a car dealership in the 9200 block of FM 78 on two separate days in late August and took the Nissan Titan for a test drive.
The car lot owner reported the vehicle stolen September 1, telling police that Stokes never returned the keys.
Police said Stokes went to the Department of Motor Vehicles the same day and registered the car in his name. His common law wife also obtained insurance for the car, the affidavit said.
Stokes was arrested about two weeks later in connection with an unrelated crime, the armed robbery of a Whataburger restaurant. San Antonio police identified him as a suspect in that crime after receiving a tip from Crime Stoppers.
Late last month, Stokes' wife filed a claim with the insurance company, stating that the car he's accused of stealing had been stolen from their driveway, the affidavit said.
Although investigators believe she also was involved in the car theft scheme and refer to her as a suspect in their affidavit, it's unclear whether Stokes' wife has been arrested.