One of two previously convicted felons arrested earlier this year in connection with a burglary after stolen items were reportedly found in their motel room was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after pleading guilty.
Brittany Nicole Pennington, 25, of Bonnerdale, who has remained in custody since her arrest July 21, appeared in Garland County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to a felony count of theft by receiving more than $5,000, while an additional felony charge of possession of a firearm by certain persons was withdrawn.
Her alleged accomplice, Megan Gray, 26, who was arrested on the same charges, is set to appear Feb. 13 in circuit court for a hearing to determine the admissibility of a statement she made to Garland County sheriff's investigators.
According to the affidavit, on July 21, a resident on Pennington Drive reported a burglary that had occurred earlier that day in which numerous items were stolen including a safe, a laptop computer, 46-inch television and multiple firearms, with a total value in excess of $5,000.
The same day, sheriff's Lt. Joel Ware was contacted by Hot Springs police after detectives reportedly located some of the stolen items inside a room at the Red Carpet Inn, 1871 E. Grand Ave. along with two women, identified as Pennington and Gray, who were both on parole.
Ware contacted the Arkansas Community Corrections office and obtained a search waiver on both suspects and it was determined Gray had rented the motel room and she and Pennington were both staying there together.
In searching the room, investigators found all the items reported stolen in the Pennington Drive burglary except for two of the firearms. One firearm that was located in the room was a pump shotgun.
The affidavit notes Pennington was convicted in Garland County Circuit Court in 2010 for breaking or entering and Gray was convicted in Montgomery County in 2013 for commercial burglary.
Local on 12/20/2017