Local men arrested in irrigation pivot thefts

By Carrie A. Mizell

Over the last few weeks, deputies from the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office have arrested at least people believed to be involved in a rash of thefts taking place in Gilchrist County.
Mikel J. Hobby, 18, of Bell was arrested and charged with Grand Theft and one count of Dealing in Stolen Property. Carl S. Hunter, Jr., 23, of Trenton was arrested and charged with Dealing in Stolen Property. Shawn M. Santerfeit, 19, of Old Town was arrested and charged with Grand Theft. Anthony C. Thomas, 27, of Trenton was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief and Trespass. James D. Jones, Jr., 40, of Bell, was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief and Trespass. John E. Robinson, Jr., 54, of Trenton was arrested and charged with Dealing in Stolen Property.
According to Investigator Bill Davis of the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, additional felony charges on these and other individuals in regards to irrigation pivot wire theft and other theft related cases in the county are pending.
The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by officers from the Department of Corrections canine unit housed at Cross City Correctional Institue during an operation performed on September 7. The canines were utilized in the apprehension of Anthony C. Thomas and James D. Jones, Jr.
While officials at the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office would not say specifically how many cases of copper wire theft had been reported from irrigation pivots, Larry Merritt of Gilchrist County Farm Bureau said he knows of five to ten separate cases.
In crimes unrelated to the irrigation wire thefts, the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office has also arrested Linda M. Collins, 50, on charges of Sale and Delivery of a Controlled Substance; and Wayne Lee Collins, 54, was also arrested for three counts of Sale of a Controlled Substance.