April 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A McMinnville woman arrested for breaking into a residence in the Jefferson Community in January and stealing almost $29,000 worth of items including a truck was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court today (Monday).
25 year old Lara Cheyenne Rigsby entered a plea to aggravated burglary and theft over $10,000. She received a 6 year sentence for the burglary and 4 years in the theft case to run consecutively for a total of 10 years suspended to supervised probation after serving 90 days. Rigsby must make restitution to the victim. She was given jail credit of 42 days.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 13, Rigsby broke into a home on Jefferson Road and stole a Kenmore electric range, Maytag washer and dryer, a mini-fridge, a 32 inch Samsung TV, a Dell computer, a Brothers sewing machine, leather rocker recliners, vases, wood art, a John Deere riding mower, 2007 Nissan Frontier, mantle clock, 22 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, leather gun case, an electric tile saw, weedeater, leaf blower, air compressor, nail gun and other miscellaneous items totaling $28, 839 in value.
While committing the crimes, Rigsby also damaged the 2007 Nissan Frontier, an Acorn stair lift, stair rail, small vanity, picture frames, painted glass panel, door jam, and two walls. The total amount of the damages came to $5,882.
The case was investigated by Sheriff’s Department Detectives and some of the items including the truck were recovered.
Meanwhile, a Walling man who stole an ATV four wheeler in February and caused some damage in the process was sentenced today (Monday).
22 year old Timothy Tyler McWhirter entered a plea to theft of property over $2,500 and received a 4 year TDOC sentence on probation. He must make restitution of $2,500 to the victim. McWhirter was given jail credit of 35 days.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 8 McWhirter stole from a residence on Four Seasons Road a 2017 Honda Recon 680 and drove it through a fence while leaving the property. McWhirter’s actions destroyed the fence and damaged the ATV’s ignition lock. He also spray painted the frame of the ATV. Total damage came to $12,000.
The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.
54 year old Vincent Rodolphus Helser entered a plea to sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams. He received a 9 year TDOC sentence on probation as a range II offender after serving 180 days in the county jail. He was fined $2,000. The term is to run concurrently with a General Sessions Court sentence he is currently serving. Helser was given jail credit of 153 days and he must make restitution of $770 to the sheriff’s department.