Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Convoluted story lands man in jail for burglary and theft

Generally, it helps getting a story straight and sticking to it.

This wasn't the case for Jerry Watson, 31, of Hope, who has been arrested and charged with residential burglary, breaking or entering and three counts of theft of property.

According to court records, on Jan. 19, Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell was told Randy Reardon may have some stolen items.

Nevada County Sheriff's deputy Robert Plyler was called and told to get case files on recent burglaries and meet the sheriff at Reardon's house.

By the time Plyler arrived, Otwell had obtained permission to search the house and property. He found a 15 gallon butane tank, a four horsepower air compressor and an 84-piece tool set.

Tonya Reardon, who had given the officers permission to conduct the search, said the items had been left by a Jerry Watson, who had brought different items over at different times during the past month.

When contacted, Waston said the items weren't stolen, adding Reardon had bought the air compressor for $30, though no money had ever exchanged hands.

Reardon told officers Watson had been driving a Chevy S-10 pickup with a boat and motor, battery charger, paddle and high pressure sprayer, along with other items he couldn't identify.

Otwell, Plyler and Deputy Heb Sorrells met with Hempstead County Sheriff Jerry Crane and went to Watson's house, where they found a weed eater, tool box with a ball hitch in it and a 15 gallon butane tank.

They then went to Watson's father's house on Shover Springs Road, where they found the pickup.

The officers inventoried the truck, finding a set of bolt cutters.

Arkansas State Police Trooper Darren Neal stopped a driver for speeding near Falcon, and learned it was Watson. Neal placed Watson under arrest and took him to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, where he waived his Miranda rights.

Watson, according to the records, said he had visited with T.J. Spell at the Red-E-Mart in Hope, asking Spell if he had any money.

Spell asked what Watson had and was told. Watson said Spell agreed to buy the items for $500, but only had $250 with him when they met again, with Spell agreeing to pay the rest later.

Watson told officers he went to Melanie Morris's house, but no one was there so he slept in his truck. The next morning he went to Reardon's house, where he claimed to sell the air compressor.

Reardon, Watson said, warned him to stay away from Spell.

Watson told officers he got scared and dumped the boat in a ditch and tossed the motor in a creek near Falcon. The motor was later recovered, but the boat wasn't.

Watson claimed the weed eater was given to him by Robert Bruner, who denied this, telling officers he thought his brother had it.

Watson then claimed Reardon had given him the butane tank, and denied leaving the weed eater with anyone.

According to reports, a 14-foot boat with a nine horse motor, rod holder with 12 fishing rods, a tackle box full of lures, a chain stringer, 25-foot heavy duty extension cord, two paddles and a cast iron pot had been taken from a camp belonging to Ralph Wilson.

The items taken were valued at $1,475.

In all, there were reportedly three related burglaries, with other items taken including: a 12-foot boat, electric fence charger, battery charger, bench grinder, 35 mm camera, bb gun, a four horsepower air compressor, two 15 gallon butane tanks, a 50-foot extension cords, a deer pulley, a deer feeder, Skil saw, weed eater, four wheeler ramp, five gallon gas can, rods, reels, another tackle box full of lures and gear, shovel, sharpshooter and a battery.

The total of all items stolen was $3,667.

Residential burglary is a class B felony with a possible sentence of 5-20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000. Breaking or entering is a class D felony with a possible sentence of up to six years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a fine up to $10,000.

Theft of property is a class C felony, with a sentence of 3-10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Watson was charged with three counts of theft of property.