Colbert man pleads in burglary

A Colbert County man whose trial was set for today pleaded guilty to burglary charges on Monday, officials said.

Timmy Lee James, 35, 541 Wagnon Mountain Rd., Tuscumbia, pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary and received a 15-year sentence with five years of probation.

According to Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing, James and a juvenile co-defendant were arrested in 2008 after stealing tools from outside a Franklin County residence and breaking into the tackle box of a boat parked at the residence and stealing items from there as well.

“We had the statements of the co-defendant, but anytime you have to rely of a co-defendant’s testimony it can be risky, so we thought this would be a good deal,” Rushing said. “Mr. James has the threat of the 15-year sentence hanging over him so if he does anything during the five-year probation period, he will be going to prison.”