Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two Cleared In Court OF Break-In At Dealership

Two area men were found not guilty by a jury of their peers on charges of commercial breaking and entering Thursday, Aug. 31.

David Railey and Don Cornelius Nixon, both of Prescott, had been charged with commercial breaking and entering in connection with the Aug. 2, 1994, break-in at Prescott Motor Co., when a computer, keyboard, monitor and video cassette recorder were stolen. Hope public defender Jim Pedigo represented Railey, while local attorney Charles "Chuck" Honey handled Nixon's case.

The jury, once the defense and prosecution rested their respective cases, deliberated slightly more than 30 minutes before returning with the verdict of not guilty for both men. All charges against the pair were dropped.

Railey, in addition to the breaking and entering charges, faced the charge of being a habitual criminal, which could have added another three to 20 years on his sentence had he been found guilty.

On Aug. 2, 1994, person or persons unknown broke into the Prescott Motor Co. through a plate glass window in the rear of the business. While inside the computer system and VCR were taken. The criminals left by a rear door.