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Baxter County Patrol Vehicle

DNA SAMPLE IDENTIFIES SUSPECT IN RESTAURANT BURGLARY

11/14/2013


Justin Thomas Studdard

     A Briarcliff man, 29 year old JUSTIN THOMAS STUDDARD, is in custody in the Baxter County Detention Center on multiple charges after being arrested November 13th by Arkansas State Trooper Jackie Stinnett on charges of Possessing Instrument of a Crime and Parole Violation.  Baxter County Investigators have since charged JUSTIN STUDDARD with additional crimes connected with the burglary of Bobbie Sue’s Restaurant that was reported on December 16, 2012.

     During the burglary investigation, it was determined that a then unknown offender had broken into the restaurant by breaking out a kitchen window and climbing inside.  Once inside the restaurant, the offender emptied out a donation jar of money being collected to aid the blind that contained about $75.00, as well as an additional donation jar that contained an unknown amount of donated money earmarked for the Humane Society.  Approximately $17.00 in change was emptied from the cash register.  The offender took a pie from the cooler and ate it, along with some milk.  The offender also made and ate a ham sandwich and consumed English muffins.  The spoon that the offender used to consume the pie with was found and taken into evidence.  The spoon was submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for DNA analysis. 

     On October 13, 2013, the Sheriff's Office received confirmation from the crime laboratory that the spoon contained a DNA profile matching that of JUSTIN THOMAS STUDDARD.  Sheriff’s Investigators thereupon applied for a Warrant of Arrest to charge STUDDARD with the burglary of Bobbie Sue’s Restaurant.

     JUSTIN THOMAS STUDDARD remains in the Baxter County Detention Center on charges of:

Commercial Burglary – Class C Felony
Theft of Property – Class A Misdemeanor
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree – Class A Misdemeanor
Possessing the Instrument of a Crime – Class A Misdemeanor
Parole Violation – Felony Hold

     Bond on the criminal charges for STUDDARD is set at $25,435.00, and he will appear in Circuit Court on November 21st.  He is held without bond on the parole violation.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff