A 22-year-old Jordan-area man pled guilty to a long string of crimes committed during a six-month period beginning in January and was given a 10-year prison sentence during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
In addition to the prison time, Kyle James Tilley was ordered to pay victim restitution of slightly more than $17,500.
He was charged with residential burglary, breaking or entering, theft of property, theft by receiving and fleeing. On two occasions, he is alleged to have stolen items from close relatives who lived near Tilley along Hopewell Hollow Road.
According to court records, Tilley stands accused of stealing firearms, a truck, a number of tools, two boxes of cigars, 25 packs of cigarettes, a game camera, jewelry and $4,000 in cash. The individual incidents took place Jan. 24, March 2, March 5, April 13, April 17, July 14 and July 20.
The two incidents in July involved the theft from the relatives’ home. The first of the illegal entries came July 14. A Baxter County deputy sheriff was dispatched to the residence to investigate the break-in. The homeowner said entry to the residence had been made through a window that had been taken off its track.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the owner had surveillance cameras installed in the residence, and when images captured by the cameras were reviewed, Tilley, identified as the home owner’s grandson, could be seen coming through the window. Once he got into the living room, Tilley walked to where a camera was installed and turned it where he couldn’t be seen. The relatives identified Tilley and the responding deputy was also able to I.D. him from previous encounters.
The second break-in at the home came July 20 while the homeowners were away from the residence. According to the probable cause affidavit, electricity to the home was turned off on this occasion to disable the surveillance cameras.
The second break-in is where the $4,000 in cash, pain pills and jewelry were all reported missing.
Family members say they also received text messages from Tilley, in which he is alleged to have mentioned items of property stolen in both of the burglaries at their residence.
One family member made physical contact with Tilley and was able to take some of the stolen articles from him — including a .357 magnum pistol.
Law enforcement officers were not immediately able to round up Tilley. At one point, they converged on the Briarcliff area, having been told Tilley had been dropped off there. A deputy spotted Tilley, but when he spotted the deputy, he fled into the woods.
Tracking dogs from the state prison at Calico Rock were brought to the scene and were able to pick up a scent but lost it after several hours.
Tilley was reported to have cut off his ankle monitor. He had been ordered to wear the monitor as one of the conditions of being allowed to bond out of jail. Tilley was placed on the Baxter County Sheriff’s list of most wanted suspects on July 22. He was arrested the same day at a Mountain Home motel. Police said at the time of his arrest, Tilley had a small caliber handgun with him.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI