Carrollton man charged with hunting camp burglaries

Published 5:04 pm Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Authorities say a Carrollton-area man has been charged with burglary stemming from thefts at several hunting camps in the Money area.

Sheriff Ricky Banks said William Thomas Beachum III, 46, was arrested at his home on Sunday.

Banks said Beachum faces six counts of burglary. He said investigators with his office had been searching for the missing items and the person believed to have taken them since mid-July.

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Several hunting camps, many with absentee owners, were targeted in a span of a few days.

Carroll County Sheriff Donald Gray said Beachum is also being charged with one count of commercial burglary and grand larceny in his county.

Gray said his office received a tip from the Leflore County Sheriff’s Department that there was stolen property at Beachum’s home. The sheriff said officers recovered hunting camp property that appeared too much for only one person to be involved.

Officers from the two counties recovered three boats — two from Beachum’s home and one in Cleveland — four four-wheelers, clothing, ammunition, tackle boxes and air compressors.

Beachum was being held at the Leflore County Jail.