Man indicted in attic burglaries

A man already convicted of one burglary at a Richmond store has been indicted on two counts of first-degree burglary in connection with break-ins at his neighbors’ apartments.

Jarred A. Pitman, 23, was indicted Monday by a Madison County grand jury on two counts of first-degree burglary, six counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of burglar’s tools, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and third-degree criminal mischief.

The charges stem from break-ins Oct. 13 and Oct. 16 at the apartment complex on Mount Rushmore Drive where police found a hole in the firewall dividing the attic above Pitman’s apartment from his neighbors.

Richmond police officer Kelli Fraze testified at a preliminary hearing in October that a footprint matching Pitman’s shoe was found on top of a water heater in one of the apartments that was burglarized.

A search of Pitman’s home uncovered six handguns and a bag containing a crowbar, hammer and screwdriver.

Pitman pleaded guilty Oct. 9 to third-degree burglary for an Aug. 6 break-in at the Dollar General Store on Center Drive, leading to the charges of firearm possession by a convicted felon.

Each of the firearm possession charges is a class C felony individually punishable by five to 10 years in prison if convicted. The first-degree burglary charge is a Class B felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The remaining charges are misdemeanors.



Other indictments

• Joe Davis Twilley, 49, of Detroit, on one count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony. If convicted, Twilley could receive up to five years in prison. (CKADTF)

• Kevin Hampton Belleville, 37, of Cynthiana; Johnathan D. Thomas, 22, of Cynthiana; and Joseph L. Hensley, 25, of Paris; on first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Hensley was also indicted on two second-degree persistent felony offender charges.

If convicted, Belleville and Thomas could receive sentences of five to 10 years in prison each for the first-degree trafficking and conspiracy to commit first-degree trafficking charges and up to 12 months in jail for the third-degree trafficking and conspiracy to commit third-degree trafficking. Hensley could receive escalated sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison on each of the felony charges because of the persistent offender charges.

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.



Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.