A man who allegedly broke into four vehicles and tried to steal a 2012 Bobcat T-750 and Caterpillar bucket from a local automotive dealer more than two years ago was sentenced Tuesday, February 18 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
55-year-old Burnette Bernie Jones entered a plea to two counts of auto burglary and one count of theft over $10,000. He received a six-year sentence in the theft case and one year in each of the auto burglary offenses to run concurrently and all suspended to probation. Jones was given jail credit of 212 days.
The incident occurred Sunday, October 2, 2022.
According to the complaint, Jones was observed on the auto dealer’s surveillance camera entering and driving a 2012 Bobcat T-750 in the back of the business. Jones was also observed trying to strap down a Caterpillar bucket to the 2012 Bobcat T-750. The total value of the 2012 Bobcat T-750 and Caterpillar bucket was $54,500.
While at the same business, Jones allegedly broke into a 2004 Black Nissan Maximum, a 2014 Black Chevrolet Silverado, a 2003 Red Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2008 Black Chrysler Sebring all parked at the car lot with the intent to deprive the owners of their belongings within these vehicles.
Meanwhile, 47-year-old Jessica Jo Bates entered a plea to misdemeanor theft and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to probation, supervised for six months and then she will be on good behavior probation if there are no further issues and provided costs are paid.