A trio of family members from Foxworth were busted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Sept. 25 for a series of area burglaries that included a local church. The investigation took many weird and even disturbing turns before the truth finally came to light.
The sheriff’s office was called to Mt. Carmel Church of God on Sept. 23 and learned that two speakers, a soundboard, DVD player and chicken nuggets were missing.
Investigator Brent Sandifer checked surveillance footage and identified James Blount, 29, as one of the suspects. James Blount lawyered up and refused to cooperate with the investigation, according to Cpt. Pete Williams, so Sandifer spoke with his wife, Tia Blount.
Tia, 25, told Sandifer that she had fallen asleep in the church’s parking lot during the night in question and woke up to her husband arguing with another male, who she claimed neither she nor her husband knew. The argument allegedly escalated to the point where the unidentified male threw a speaker at James and threatened him. Tia then claimed to Sandifer that they drove the unidentified male to Pickwick Road and dropped him off with the speakers, soundboard and DVD player before leaving with only the chicken nuggets.
However, after learning new information about a short female who was also caught on camera, Sandifer sought to interview Tia once again. One of the sheriff’s office’s employees, who knew investigators were looking for Tia, was in a local pawn shop when they spotted Tia attempting to pawn other items. Sandifer arrived to interview her again, and her story changed.
She said that the unidentified male was actually James’ brother and her brother-in-law, Randy. She told Sandifer that James and Randy, 20, allegedly stole all of the items from the church together and that the items she was attempting to pawn were stolen from a warehouse in Tylertown. She also stated that the speakers were sold to someone in Tylertown that they did not know.
Randy just so happened to be with Tia at the pawn shop and was also interviewed by investigators. Williams said that during Randy’s interview, he attempted to lie multiple times. Because investigators already knew much of what actually happened, they confronted him when he was lying and it was only then that he told the truth.
Randy told investigators that the items stolen from the warehouse were a lawnmower, weed eaters, tiller and various tools. He also admitted to breaking into a brick house, where they stole copper wire, and an abandoned store in Pike County, where they stole a peanut warmer and meat slicer. He also admitted that the DVD player was still at their house, and they were using it.
In addition to the robberies, Sandifer learned that just four hours before the items were stolen from the church, James and Tia spoke with leaders from the church and asked for assistance in the form of money and food. The church leaders called them two days later, not knowing they were the alleged robbers, and offered them the food and money they were seeking. Despite already robbing the church, James and Tia allegedly still accepted and picked up the food and money prior to being arrested.
James Blount was charged with breaking and entering a church or synagogue with intent to commit a crime and receiving stolen property, both felonies. Tia Blount was also charged with a pair of felonies, including breaking and entering and burglary of a building and receiving stolen property in excess of $1,000. Both remained behind bars at the Marion County Correctional Facility on bonds totaling $10,500 as of press time Tuesday. Williams said they both also have holds in Walthall County.
Randy Blount was also charged with two felonies, including the burglary of a non-dwelling and receiving stolen property. He has since bonded out of jail in Marion County, but Williams said Monday that he was being held in Walthall County.
“Brent did a great job on this case. He identified them quick and arrested them quick,” Williams said. “He was able to bring closure to several cases.”
Following their arrests Sept. 25, deputies conducted a search warrant on their home and recovered several of the stolen items.
