The first of two suspects arrested last year for allegedly breaking into money dispensers was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Andrew Michael Herron, 28, of Lonsdale, pleaded guilty to three felony charges of breaking or entering and was sentenced to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $7,491.35 in restitution and $170 in court costs. Additional charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of instruments of crime were withdrawn.
Herron has remained in custody since his arrest Nov. 19, 2015, for failure to appear and will be given credit for time served.
According to the affidavit, on Oct. 5, around 4:15 a.m., Garland County sheriff 's Deputy Clayton Green received a call of an alarm at Twice the Ice, 1890 Airport Road, and arrived to find the door had been drilled open and someone attempted to break into the money dispenser.
Deputies began checking ice dispensers in the area because they "usually get hit all at once" and it was discovered the dispensers near the front gate of Hot Springs Village and at 3339 Central Ave. had also been broken into.
The owner of the Airport Road dispenser obtained a photo of the suspect vehicle and one of the suspects, which was distributed to all deputies. Deputy Stacy Morgan was on his way home in an unmarked unit and stopped for breakfast at McDonald's on East Grand when he spotted a black Ford Explorer matching the description of the suspect vehicle.
He noted the driver paid for his food using change and notified GCSD Cpl. Josh Cannon, who made a traffic stop on the vehicle at Grand and Malvern. He made contact with the driver, identified as Wesley Harden Harris, 24, of Hot Springs, and the passenger, identified as Herron, and noted in plain view several gold dollars commonly used for change in the ice dispensing machines.
He also noted a hat Harris was wearing matched that worn by the suspect in the security photo. Both suspects were taken into custody and searched. Harris had $120 on him and Herron had $132 in various bills. Deputies also located gloves, a pry bar, two drills, several used drill bits and a lock that had been drilled out in their possession.
Deputies then found a baggie containing what later tested positive for meth, and a glass pipe. Harris reportedly stated, "Yeah, I did break into one of them. The one out 7 south, but I'm not sure where it was at exactly because I was so high."
Harris reportedly stated Herron was riding around with him all night. Both men were charged on the multiple felony and misdemeanor counts. Herron also had a warrant for his arrest out of Saline County.
Local on 02/10/2016