May 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A Byrdstown man believed to have been responsible for a recent rash of burglaries and thefts from a Nashville Highway storage unit business in DeKalb County was sentenced for the crimes in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, May 2.
24-year-old Nicholas Braedan Booher entered a plea by criminal information to 5 counts of burglary other than a habitation and received a 4-year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other for a total of 4 years, but he will be on probation. Booher must make restitution to the victims. The sentence is to run consecutively to a Pickett County Criminal Court violation of probation case against him. He was given jail credit of 70 days.
The cases against a co-defendant, 23-year-old Jessie Danielle Murphy of Fisher Avenue, Smithville remain pending in court. The arrests of Booher and Murphy were made after an investigation by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 5 and February 17 Booher and Murphy broke into and stole items from several storage units being rented by a total of five victims.
In each case, Sheriff Ray explained what was stolen as follows:
*January 5, a storage unit was broken into, and items stolen included several tools, a 40-inch Smart television, plates and antique chairs. The total value of the property is $1,650.
*February 17, a storage unit was broken into, and items stolen included a black safe, a wedding band with diamonds, four silver bars, and a golden class ring. The total value of the property is $4,430.
* February 17, a storage unit was broken into, and items stolen included two firearms, assorted currency, jewelry, clothes, and other assorted items. The total value of the property is $4,100.
*February 17, a storage unit was broken into, and items stolen included three Easter baskets with content, a Halloween basket, and a master lock. The total value of the property is $95.
*February 17, a storage unit was broken into, and items stolen included a green air compressor and a master lock. The total value of the property is $500.