The second of two suspects arrested last year for burglarizing two local businesses in 2017, stealing a total of $13 while causing almost $1,000 in damages, was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to charges.
Billy Ray Rideout, 46, of Little Rock, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to two felony counts of commercial burglary and was sentenced to five years in prison on each count, plus three years suspended, while additional misdemeanor charges of first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property under $1,000 were withdrawn.
His accomplice, Darold Allan Cross, 46, also of Little Rock, had pleaded guilty to the same charges on Aug. 20, 2018, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count. Court costs were expunged for both men for time served.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Dec. 19, 2017, the manager of Sonic Drive-In, 510 Albert Pike Road, reported a burglary where $3 was taken and there was damage to the glass door, estimated at $350.
According to the security footage, two suspects, later identified as Rideout and Cross, broke the glass door with a crowbar and entered the business. The video footage showed one suspect wearing an orange hat, light color mask and tan and black gloves. The second suspect was wearing tennis shoes, a dark sweatshirt with distinct white markings, an orange mask, yellow gloves and pants with a small reflective area.
That same day, the manager of 19th Hole Liquor, 2230 Malvern Ave., reported a burglary of his business. The security footage showed two suspects attempting to break a glass door with a crowbar and eventually forcing entry. The suspects reportedly took $10 cash from the tip jar on the counter and fled.
The manager estimated the cost of repair was around $600. The suspects were wearing the same clothing from the security footage of the Sonic burglary.
The next day, Hot Springs police Detective Nathan Rines was contacted by Benton police in reference to two suspects involved in numerous burglaries in Saline County on Dec. 19.
Rines reviewed the footage of a burglary from Saline County of the two suspects and confirmed they were wearing the same clothing as the suspects in the Hot Springs burglaries. He also noted the method of entry for the burglaries were all the same.
Cross was arrested on Feb. 20, 2018, and Rideout was arrested on April 24, 2018.
Local on 10/16/2019