Ava man arrested for break-ins at Ozark County schools

wireready_11-24-2018-12-22-05_05964_curtisleebarton

A man from Ava has been arrested for multiple break-ins at area schools dating back nearly two years. Thirty-four-year-old Curtis Lee Barton is being held in the Ozark County Jail on a $30,000 bond for allegedly breaking into both the Dora and Bakersfield schools recently and Gainesville, Lutie and Thornfield schools in the past 22 months.

The Ozark County Times reports the probably cause statement in the case indicates schools at Dora and Bakersfield were both broken into in the early morning hours of November 4th. Nearly $6,300 was taken at Dora and approximately $2,000 was stolen at Bakersfield. Video surveillance shows the intruder at both schools was wearing the same clothing.

It’s believed Barton is also the person who broke into the Thornfield School in February of last year and got away with $600, the Gainesville elementary in September last year where the person took multiple items and the Lutie school in December last year where over $2,000 cash was taken.

Barton is also suspected of breaking into MFA Propane in Gainesville in September last year, Gainesville Ag Supply last December, West Plains Propane last December, Mark Twain School in Taney County in January and several businesses in West Plains in March.

Court records indicate Barton has also been arrested in Douglas, Barry and Webster counties in Missouri for burglaries. He was convicted in Baxter County Circuit Court of commercial burglary, theft of property and felony fleeing in 2007. He also has warrants for his arrest out of Lonoke County for theft of and fraudulent use of debit/credit cards.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI