Photo: Matthew St. Clair
A Marion County man facing eight charges in connection with an incident in November when a woman reported a suspicious truck in her driveway, followed by individuals shining lights into the windows of her home and attempting to kick in her door, is facing five new offenses in a second case. Records indicate 27-year-old Matthew St. Clair of Everton faces a combined 13 charges.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Friday, an attempted theft was reported at a residence along Marion County 6001 on the morning of Oct. 10.
A man at the residence gave law enforcement a detailed description of a truck with two men and a white pit bull inside that pulled into his circle driveway. The truck was pulling a converted bass boat trailer.
The man said the driver exited the vehicle, knocked on the front door of the residence and walked the perimeter of the house before knocking very hard again. The resident of the home was watching the driver of the vehicle from an upstairs window.
The driver reportedly walked around the house again, while on his phone, and came back to the door of the residence.
At this point, the driver slid into his seat in his vehicle and backed the trailer up to a flatbed truck at the residence loaded with an ATV and camping gear.
The man reportedly unstrapped the ATV, while a second guy began going through the cab of the truck where the resident of the home had multiple guns, a bow and camping equipment.
The resident of the home came out and confronted the two men who jumped into their vehicle and fled.
With the detailed description of the truck and trailer, the deputy located the rig a short time later in Rea Valley. The homeowner identified two men, including St. Clair, who came to his residence about 20 minutes earlier, and as they were leaving, he heard them pull behind his house. He saw one of the two go through a fence and run toward the woods, with a gun tucked inside the waistband of his pants.
Neither suspect was located. However, through an inventory of the truck, deputies located a backpack with numerous items, including an ID card for St. Clair.
Later that evening, officers learned St. Clair was reportedly at his parents’ residence in Pyatt. But, once again, he was able to elude law enforcement.
The following day, the homeowner who reported the two men attempting to take the items outside his home, identified St. Clair and a second suspect from photo lineups.
St. Clair faces a felony charge of breaking or entering, along with four misdemeanors. His bond is set at $10,000.
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