One Arrested in Stephens Co. Theft

A Franklin County man is in custody facing charges after an alleged theft in Stephens County.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said the arrest came after conducting a month long investigation into a case of felony theft by taking.

Shirley said that on October 16, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Currahee Circle in reference to a theft of power tools and other construction materials valued at approximately $3400.00.

According to the sheriff, the victim stated to deputies she had several contractors at her home performing various construction jobs and when the work was completed and the contractors left, she noticed her power tools were missing.

He said his investigators immediately began interviewing witnesses and workers and through these interviews, developed a suspect.

At that point, Shirley said Stephens County investigators, with assistance from the Lavonia Police Department, were able to track the suspect to a residence located in Franklin County.

The sheriff said the suspect, 25-year-old Michael Dean Bledsoe of 189 Stone Cypher Road in Franklin County was also wanted for questioning involving a similar theft in Franklin County.

Shirley said Stephens County investigators were able to secure a search warrant for Bledsoe’s residence and during the search, investigators were able to recover a large portion of the stolen property from the Currahee Circle residence.

According to the sheriff, Bledsoe was being held at the Franklin County Jail on warrants taken by Franklin County at last report and will later be transported to Stephens County to face Felony Theft by Taking charges.

In addition, Shirley said Bledsoe is also wanted in Tennessee for a probation violation.