GATE CITY — A Kingsport man was given a five-year prison sentence in Scott County Circuit Court Monday after being convicted for his role in multiple burglaries that happened in 2010 in the Weber City area.
Joseph Lesley Shupe, 30, 1375 Derwood Court, No. 3, Kingsport, was sentenced by Circuit Judge John Kilgore to 15 years in prison with nine years and four months suspended.
Shupe was also ordered to pay restitution to multiple victims.
Shupe’s sentence came after he pleaded guilty to 11 total felony counts, including breaking and entering, grand larceny and conspiracy.
Shupe was arrested following a series of break-ins that occurred in November 2010 at homes and businesses in and around Weber City. Shupe confessed to the burglaries after being taken into custody by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
“(Shupe) was one of three people who went on a crime spree that took place in November 2010,” Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marcus McClung said. “He will join the other two who are already serving their time in prison now.”
The co-defendants arrested in connection with Shupe were convicted for their roles in separate break-ins.
Scottie Ray Barnette, 32, Gate City, was sentenced in March 2011 to four years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of grand larceny and three counts of breaking and entering.
Shupe’s other co-defendant — Drandon Ray Darnell, 38, Kingsport — was ordered to serve a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of grand larceny and one count each of breaking and entering and conspiracy.