Two Hot Springs men were arrested Wednesday afternoon for allegedly burglarizing a residence Monday and selling the items to a local gaming store.
Shawn Wayne Root, 32, of 111 Treva Place, and Matthew Paul Clark, 33, of 109 Magnum St., were each charged with residential burglary, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Clark was later released on $5,000 bond and is set to appear Dec. 19 in Garland County District Court.
Root had a warrant for failure to appear and remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $5,000 bond. He is set to appear Dec. 16 in district court.
According to the affidavit, on Monday, a resident in the 100 block of Bledsoe Circle reported a burglary in which an Xbox One, television, Madden NFL 17 video game and two controllers were stolen.
The victim also stated his front door and door frame sustained approximately $150 damages. The incident reportedly occurred between 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. while he was away from the residence.
On Tuesday, Garland County sheriff's Investigator Brandon Huckaba used LeadsOnline to determine an Xbox One, with the same serial number as the reported stolen console, was sold to Game Xchange, 3954 Central Ave. The console was sold by a "Matthew Clark" at 6:36 p.m. on Monday along with a wireless controller, rechargeable battery pack and a Madden NFL 17 video game.
On Wednesday, an employee positively identified Clark as the man in a Game Xchange surveillance video making the transaction. The employee said another male was with Clark and brought the items inside while Clark was outside smoking. He also said the video game was inside the console when he checked it.
Investigators Huckaba and Matt Ellis were able to positively identify Clark and the other male suspect as Root.
Local on 12/09/2016