A man charged with breaking into — or attempting to break into — several buildings in Mountain Home in August last year made it somewhat easy to identify him when he waved at security cameras at one of the locations.
And, 46-year-old Paul Barlow Langford of Mountain Home did not go past the cameras just once, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case. When investigators reviewed one tape, Langford reportedly could be seen walking by and waving at a camera during a several hour period.
Langford entered a guilty plea to charges filed against him as a result of the various incidents during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. He is being allowed to turn himself in at the Baxter County jail at 9 a.m. Aug. 29.
The cameras captured Langford tearing the phone lines loose from a building in an apparent attempt to prevent the burglar alarm from being triggered.
In the probable cause affidavit, Langford was described as having his face partially covered with bandannas. He had very distinct tattoos on both arms, described as “sleeves,” which also aided in his identification.
The last building to be hit was successfully entered. Police said nothing appeared to have been taken, but cabinets were turned over and interior doors damaged.
As the investigation ramped up, officers went to the residence where Langford lives with his parents. When police arrived, they reported Langford met them in the driveway and began yelling and cursing — demanding officers leave the property.
He was reported to have run to the back of the residence and entered a screened porch. Investigators said Langford’s mother was standing on the porch, and her son almost knocked her over, shutting her fingers in a door in his attempt to make a get-away.
He was taken into custody in the porch area, before he could flee into the residence.
Police said Langford told them he “didn’t break into anything, all the doors were open.”
In Langford’s bedroom, officers found items of clothing and the bandannas used to cover his face during his lengthy appearances before the surveillance cameras.
In addition to prison time, Langford was ordered to pay slightly more than $800 in restitution.
According to court records, Langford has at least six previous felony convictions in Arkansas and California, ranging from burglary, theft, assault with a firearm and firearms possession.
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