25-05-2025
Law enforcement links suspects to multiple crimes
May 24—An ex-convict accused of robbing a burrito stand at gunpoint last month is now facing multiple other charges after police said they've linked him to the arson of a church and multiple burglaries throughout West Texas.
John Houston McClellan, 33, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated robbery April 6, two days after three men entered the Chavito's Burrito stand on South Moss around 7 a.m. and found the owner inside.
According to an Ector County Sheriff's Office report, one of the men put a pistol to the woman's forehead and ordered her to the ground after which the trio robbed her of $1,800 in cash and other items, the report stated.
Before leaving, the men broke the woman's phone and told her not to get up, the report stated.
On April 6, authorities found the suspects' vehicle being driven by McClellan, the report stated.
According to the report, another person inside the vehicle gave details of the robbery they'd learned from McClellan and another suspect — details only the suspects could know.
According to the report, McClellan told the cooperating witness he was the suspect with the pistol.
McClellan posted a $120,000 surety bond and was released from the Ector County jail April 9.
According to court documents released Friday, on the same day McClellan was arrested on the robbery charge, authorities were investigating a subset of the Aryan Brotherhood and the theft of several safes, $220,000 in cash and three shotguns from a business in Crane when a suspect in that case admitted she'd stolen two assault rifles and a handgun from a residence for McClellan and his friend, Jeran Loschiavo, 31.
On April 18, authorities developed information leading them to believe that McClellan stole a 2000 H1 Hummer, valued at $100,000, a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle valued at $6,000 and a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe valued at $50,000 from CMT Storage on Faudree Road, the reports stated.
Then, on April 19, deputies were dispatched to Goldsmith Grocery, 2023 W. Gulf, on a burglary call. They discovered two safes containing cash, tobacco products and lottery tickets were taken.
According to the reports, during the investigation, deputies received information the stolen items could be found at a trailer in the 4800 block of North Golder Avenue. They were also informed McClellan, Loschiavo and a third man, Christopher Glenn, 34, were doing burglaries throughout Ector County and other parts of West Texas.
In searching the vehicles on the Golder Avenue property and a trailer, deputies found items from the Goldsmith burglary and other burglaries in Ector and Howard counties, including some that had been taken from CMT Storage, the reports stated.
Glenn, a Midland resident, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of theft of property and several outstanding Ector County warrants.
Loschiavo, an Odessa resident, was arrested on April 29 on suspicion of possession of stolen property, theft of property $150,000-$300,000, two counts of theft of firearm and two counts of engaging in criminal activity
He was released May 4 after posting surety bonds totaling $405,000.
McClellan was arrested on April 26 on suspicion of burglary of a building in a Crane County case and he was released from the Ector County jail the same day after posting a $5,000 surety bond.
According to the recently released reports, dispatchers received a report the Second Chance Fellowship, 812 W. Hillmont, was on fire around 3:45 a.m. May 9.
During the subsequent investigation, authorities learned a $4,000 cargo trailer and sound equipment valued at $15,000 was stolen roughly four hours before the fire broke out.
They obtained security camera footage showing the burglary and a few hours later, a Dodge pickup truck belonging Loschiavo pulling into the alley near the church and two men getting out minutes before the fire, the report stated.
According to the reports, a cooperating witness identified Loschiavo, McClellan and a third man as being involved in the incident. The witness also said McClellan sold the sound equipment the morning after the burglary and he split the proceeds with Loschiavo.
The reports indicate McClellan confessed to selling the equipment, but said another person borrowed Loschiavo's pickup truck, burglarized the church and started the fire.
McClellan was booked into the Ector County jail May 14 on suspicion of theft of property $150,000-$300,000, possession of stolen property, theft of firearm, arson at a place of worship, two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, theft of property and burglary of a building. His bond was set at $545,000, but he's also being held without bail for allegedly violating his parole and for allegedly being a fugitive from justice in a Lea County, New Mexico, case.
According to Ector County District Court records, McClellan was sentenced to six years in prison in June 2022 after pleading guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity. Under the terms of his plea agreement, burglary of a building and evading arrest charges were dismissed.
Loschiavo was arrested Thursday on suspicion of arson of a place of worship, engaging in organized criminal activity, theft of property and burglary of a building. He was booked into the Ector County jail and his bail has been set at $145,000.
There are no jail records showing an arrest for the third suspect in the arson case, although jail records indicate the ex-convict was released from the Ector County jail April 1 after posting bond in a case involving drugs, endangerment and firearm charges.
