A man who was reportedly homeless at the time who burglarized Fountain Lake School last year, stealing food from the cafeteria, was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Bobby Lynn Blackwood, 55, who now lists a Kelsie Lane address, pleaded guilty to a felony count of commercial burglary, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while a misdemeanor count of theft of property under $1,000 was withdrawn. He was sentenced to three years with credit for time served and ordered to pay $190 in court costs.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Nov. 11, 2018, during the night, an employee of Fountain Lake School, 4207 Park Ave., reported a burglary in which an unknown man had walked around the campus trying to get in various buildings through several different doors.
The man was finally able to gain entry through a door leading into the cafeteria area and removed multiple food products from one of the coolers. He then left carrying the stolen items, with much of the activity captured on security video.
Garland County sheriff's investigators obtained still photos from the video, which they posted on the sheriff's Facebook page and distributed to patrol and detention center deputies.
Detention center deputies notified investigators that a man, identified as Blackwood, had been arrested for driving while intoxicated on Nov. 13 by the National Park Service and appeared to be the same man from the school video.
Blackwood had been released on bond but investigators were reportedly able to compare his booking photo and his Facebook profile photo to the photos of the burglary suspect and confirm it was him.
The affidavit notes Blackwood had some distinctive facial tattoos that were visible in the burglary photos and his recent booking photo. A warrant for his arrest was later issued and he was taken into custody on Dec. 11.
He was released on a $3,500 bond on Jan. 5 and pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 5. On Sept. 10, a mental evaluation was ordered and the report was received on Oct. 9 which found he was fit to proceed. Blackwood accepted the findings of the report in a hearing Tuesday and opted to plead guilty to the charge.
Local on 11/08/2019