SCSO makes 3 arrests following string of thefts

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has recently received reports of several thefts.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on January 25, his office received two separate reports of theft by deception and burglary in the first degree at a residence on Piney Ridge Road in the Holcomb Access neighborhood of Martin.

Shirley says after a month-long investigation into the burglary, Investigators were able to make multiple arrests after conducting several interviews and locating some of the stolen property.

37-year-old Jerry Wilbanks, of Toccoa, was originally arrested on an outstanding probation warrant and now has been charged with burglary in the first degree.

40-year-old Jessica Dubroc, of Toccoa, was charged with two counts of burglary in the first degree and misdemeanor theft by deception.

Wilbanks is currently being held at the Stephens County Detention Center with a probation hold and Dubroc is currently in the Oconee County, South Carolina Detention Center awaiting extradition back to Stephens County.

Shirley says the investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.

In an unrelated incident, on February 25, Shirley says his office received a report of a theft from a residence on Camp Mikell Road.

Shirley says during the course of the investigation, investigators learned that the victim hired a man to help move items into a storage building, but near the end of moving the items, the man left with some of the property.

With help from the victim and surveillance footage from the victim’s home, investigators were able to identify the man as 34-year-old Jonathan Pitts of Mt. Airy.

Investigators learned that Pitts was on probation and as part of the condition of this probation had a fourth amendment waiver. They then contacted the Department of Community Supervision and met with one of their officers to go to Pitts’ residence.

While at the residence, Shirley says some of the stolen property was located and investigators learned of the location of the remaining property.

Pitts was arrested and charged with felony theft by taking. Pitts is currently at the Stephens County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond and a probation hold.

Shirley says his office wants to thank the Georgia Department of Community Supervision for their assistance in this investigation.