A Murfreesboro man, arrested during a traffic stop last week, was later charged with burglary and thefts after county officers found stolen goods in his truck.
30 year old James Ricky Ashford of Burnwood Trailer Court, Murfreesboro is charged with two counts of theft of property under $500 and one count of burglary. His bond is set at $7,000 and his court date is April 30th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Ashford was arrested on Sunday, April 12th after a traffic stop on Highway 96 in Liberty. “County deputies were on patrol in the Snows Hill and Dowelltown area when they made the traffic stop and noticed a leaf blower and a tool box in the back of the vehicle that Ashford was driving. After an in-depth investigation, officers discovered that Ashford and two other persons had been riding around looking for items to steal here in DeKalb County. They even went to a store in Smithville and purchased a pry bar to use as a tool to gain entry into locked buildings, vehicles, and trailers. Officers learned that the three men went to a residence on Dry Creek Road in Smithville and broke the lock off an enclosed trailer and stole a leaf blower valued less than $500. The men then went to a location on West Main Street, Smithville and removed from the owner’s vehicle, a tool box containing various tools.
Deputies made the owners aware of the thefts after making this discovery.
The other two suspects in the case, who live in another county, have not yet been picked up.
Meanwhile, 31 year old James Allen Hesson of Big Hurricane Road, Smithville was charged Wednesday, April 15th with violation of the sexual offender registry. Hesson was arrested after he failed to report to the DeKalb County Jail, re-register his address, and pay his fines. Hesson also moved and did not report it. Hesson’s bond is $10,000 and he will appear in court on April 30th.
37 year old Tina Beth Young was stopped on Highway 56 South Thursday, April 16th for a traffic violation. Officers noticed Young’s speech to be very slurred. She was given field sobriety tasks which she failed. Young was arrested for driving under the influence and was issued written citations for violation of registration and driving without any insurance on the vehicle. Her bond was set at $1,000 and will she will appear in court on April 30th.