Couple charged in theft/ burglary

CHARLESTON - Working together, the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department and East Prairie Police Department solved a burglary and a theft.

Mark Alan Pritchett, 48, and Carol Lee Pritchett, 41, of East Prairie are each charged with the felonies of second degree burglary, stealing a motor vehicle and two counts of theft/stealing of property valued in excess of $500. Bond for Mark Pritchett is set at $150,000 bond, while bond for Carol Pritchett is set at $100,000.

The arrests came following an investigation, which began last week when county residents contacted both the Sheriff's Department and the East Prairie Police Department to report thefts. An East Prairie resident reported jewelry and other items missing from inside her home and another local man notified officers that a four-wheeler and a trailer were stolen from his property.

Carol Pritchett

Carol Pritchett

During the course of the investigation, Deputy Cory Hutcheson exchanged tips with East Prairie Police Chief Danny Lafferty and together they developed information the Pritchetts were responsible for both the burglary and ATV theft, according to Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore.

On Monday, Captain Ken Story and Hutcheson located Mark Pritchett and arranged for him to be brought to the Mississippi County Detention Center.

For the full story, see Wednesday's Standard Democrat