A 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody recently on outstanding warrants for selling stolen items to a pawn shop in Camp Springs. He faces two felony theft charges for stealing the merchandise, which was valued at about $1,350. The pawn store reportedly paid him just over $200 for the property, including portable electronics and jewelry.
In November of 2012, law enforcement personnel connected the defendant and his partner to stolen items through a lost cell phone, which contained text messages sent to the co-defendant. Beginning in October, the pair were suspected to have broken into a minimum of six homes in the White Oak area and believed to have stolen electronics, jewelry and guns. In one notable incident, one of the victims allegedly awoke to find the co-defendant in his home. Although the thief fled with $60 in cash, in the process he lost his cell phone and items that were later determined to have been stolen.
Authorities found pictures of more stolen merchandise on the phone; they scouted out various pawn shops in the area and recovered the stolen merchandise. On Nov. 10, law enforcement responded to a call from a local hotel of someone in a room with a gun. They found both suspects. In addition to jewelry, officers discovered a substance believed to be PCP. The 23-year-old was subsequently released on bond.
A suspect who faces felony charges might be able to benefit from the representation of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. The attorney might be able to negotiate a possible reduction in charges in order to lessen the penalties the defendant faces if he or she is convicted.
Source: WUSA9, “Jonathan Warren Charged With Felony Theft For Stealing, Selling iPods, Fog Machine, Camera, Jewelry In Md.,” Feb. 25, 2013