19-year-old sentenced to prison for thefts

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Photo: Jayson Nicholas George-Santoro

A 19-year-old Mountain Home man pled guilty in Baxter County Circuit Court Tuesday to a long string of charges stemming from his alleged participation in stealing a pickup truck, $3,500 in cash, a rifle, 12 knives and a small safe from a residence along Water Plant Road.

Jayson Nicholas George-Santoro was sentenced to 10 years in prison with two suspended and eight to serve. Restitution in the case has yet to be determined.

George-Santoro’s alleged partner in the crime was identified as the 16-year-old son of the person occupying the residence, according to the probable cause affidavit.

George-Santoro had initially entered a not guilty plea to the charges on Oct. 31. He was charged with breaking or entering, theft of a firearm, theft of other property, possession of controlled substances, fleeing on foot and in a vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence.

On Oct. 21, the resident of the Water Plant Road home reported the theft to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office. He said he had left for work at approximately 4 a.m. and contacted his son via text message about two hours later.

When he returned home at 10 a.m., he found his son, a 2007 Ford pickup truck, and a number of other items missing. He also reported several of his son’s personal belongings were missing from the house.

Later in the day, a Baxter County deputy sheriff saw a pickup truck matching the description of the one reported stolen. He attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the truck sped away.

The short-lived pursuit ended when the truck went out of control and struck a dirt embankment. Two young males bailed out and fled on foot into a wooded area. A second deputy arrived on the scene, gave chase and apprehended the juvenile, as he attempted to climb a rock ledge.

Tracking dogs from the North Central Unit of the state prison system at Calico Rock came to the scene. After a short period, the canines located George-Santoro, who was identified as the person driving the stolen truck.

A search of the vehicle turned up numerous items belonging to the juvenile, along with some of the stolen property, including a quantity of cash and the knives taken from the father’s home.

Deputies also found a bag of green leafy material believed to be marijuana.

George-Santoro and the juvenile said the rifle and small safe had been dropped off at a residence in the Salesville area. Authorities found the rifle leaning against a vehicle in the driveway of the home, and the safe was also located.

Deputies had been told the safe contained personal papers, keys and medication. The safe had been basically torn apart to gain entry, and pieces of it were scattered in various location at the Salesville residence, including a burn barrel.

A document located in a trash can had the victim’s name on it.

George-Santoro has been in jail since being arrested on charges stemming from the Water Plant Road incident.

The case of the 16-year-old son of the resident is being handled in Baxter County Juvenile Court.

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