The man arrested for numerous car break-ins at a local car dealership in October 2022 pled guilty in DeKalb Criminal Court last week and was handed a sentence.

According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray then 53-year-old Burnette Bernie Jones of East Broad Street, Smithville, was arrested on October 2, 2022, for theft of property over $1,000, and four burglary charges.

Sheriff Ray reported that Jones was observed on surveillance camera entering a 2004 black Nissan Maxima, a 2008 black Chrysler Sebring, a 2014 black Chevy Silverado, and a 2003 red Chevy Tahoe, parked at Gill’s Automotive with the intent to deprive the owner of their belongings.

He was also recorded entering and driving a 2012 Bobcat T750 in the back lot of Gill’s Automotive, and was also seen trying to strap down a Caterpillar bucket to the Bobcat, with a total value of both items at $54,000.

On Tuesday, February 18, now 55-year-old Jones pled guilty to five counts of auto burglary and one count of theft over $10,000. He was sentenced to six-years in the theft case, and one year each in the auto burglary offenses, to run concurrently and all suspended to probation. He was given jail credit of 212 days.

Also on February 18, 47-year-old Jessica Jo Bates pled guilty to misdemeanor theft and received 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation for six months, then on good behavior probation if there are no further issues and provided costs are paid.