JONESVILLE — Lee County authorities arrested five Jonesville residents Wednesday for their alleged roles in two burglaries earlier this year that resulted in the theft of bags full of cigarettes from a local convenience store.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said it had charged William Slayton Jr., 31; Stephen B. Slayton, 26; William Paul Slayton Sr., 49; and Angela Seals, 34, all of 814 Hubbard Church Road, Jonesville; and Carolyn Ann Dixon, 55, of Jonesville, for their alleged roles in the break-ins. The burglaries occurred in January and April at the Black Diamond Market in Ewing.
William Slayton Jr. and Stephen Slayton are charged with two counts of breaking and entering, two counts of grand larceny, six counts of conspiracy, and two counts of destruction of property valued over $1,000 that stem from both burglaries.
William Slayton Sr. and Seals are charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny, three counts of conspiracy, and a single count of destruction of property for allegedly helping carry out the April break-in. Dixon was arrested on the same charges for allegedly participating in the January incident.
According to police reports, a Lee County deputy discovered the initial burglary when he found the door of the Black Diamond Market had been broken out at approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 10. While reviewing surveillance video, investigators observed an individual enter the store and fill a trash bag with cartons of cigarettes before leaving.
Authorities discovered the April break-in after responding to an alarm at the Black Diamond Market around 3:30 a.m. on April 10. Surveillance video from that incident showed two men wearing sweatshirts break into the market and fill trash bags with cigarettes. Authorities later found two sweatshirts matching those in the surveillance video on a nearby road.
Authorities said Seals admitted to driving the Slaytons to a location near the market and dropping off William Slayton Sr. and Stephen Slayton. Authorities said the older Slayton broke the market’s door out, while the younger Slaytons carried out the thefts.
Authorities said the January burglary played out in a similar manner, with Dixon telling police that she gave William Slayton Jr. and Stephen Slayton a ride the night of the incident. Dixon said she dropped Stephen Slayton off near the Black Diamond Market before picking him up on a nearby road and driving him back to his home. Dixon told investigators she did not learn of the stolen cigarettes until after she arrived back at the Slaytons’ residence.
William Slayton Jr., Stephen Slayton and Seals are being held without bond in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield. William Slayton Sr. and Dixon are free on bond.