City man indicted in burglary spree
By Staff
Nathan Strickland
A Russellville man accused of breaking-in and burglarizing several stores has been indicted by a Franklin County Grand Jury.
Authorities said Mathew Justin O’Neal, 25, of 12145 Franklin 187 in Russellville, has been indicted for charges on two separate occasions.
Franklin County Courthouse officials said during the March session O’Neal was indicted on charges for five counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree attempted theft of property, third-degree theft of property, second-degree theft of property, three counts of third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglar’s tools, possession and receiving of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana and use and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said officers received a call about a couple of break-ins behind Franklin shopping center in July 2009.
Hargett said when officers arrived they found four businesses including Southern Rural Healthcare, Franklin County Southern Baptist Association, Lana’s Salon and Russellville Varmints broke into and burglarized.
Investigators said a laptop was taken from Southern Rural Healthcare, a toolset was taken from Franklin County Southern Baptist Association and all four of the businesses involved suffered significant damages.
Authorities said officers found O’Neal inside his vehicle parked near the scene where the break-ins occurred.
Law enforcement officials said officers approached the vehicle and saw a laptop and a toolset inside O’Neal’s vehicle and asked him to step out of the car.
Authorities said O’Neal appeared to be under the influence and when asked by officers about the computer, he claimed it to be his old laptop that he had been meaning to get fixed.
Investigators said officers then asked for permission to search the car and found marijuana, several controlled substances, and a screwdriver and a crowbar, which matched the imprint left on one of the businesses’ doors, were found in O’Neal’s vehicle.
O’Neal was arrested and released on bond.
In September 2009, law enforcement officials were called to attempted break-ins at Tompkins Supply and R.H. Tompkins Livestock where the suspect attempted to get in cash registers at both places, but was unsuccessful.
Officials said O’Neal admitted to his involvement in some of the incidents, which led to his arrest.
O’Neal is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail without bail.
