Toccoa Brothers Charged In Connection With State Park Thefts in Franklin and Hart Counties

Two Toccoa brothers are charged with what authorities say is a string of thefts at Victoria Bryant State Park in Royston and Hart State Park in Hartwell.

According to DNR Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum, the pair allegedly broke into the green boxes at each park used by visitors to place their park pass fees.

He says both men were arrested this week.

“The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Franklin and Hart County Sheriff’s office have been investigating a series of thefts that have occurred at the Victoria Bryant State Park and the Hart State Park. In the last 72 hours, two male subjects were arrested for those thefts,” Fulghum said Thursday night.

Fulghum said the thefts had been going on at both parks since March but had increased in recent weeks.

On Monday, investigators from the DNR Law Enforcement and the Hart County Sheriff’s office arrested Nicholas Joseph Glover of Toccoa on theft charges.

He was then transferred to the Franklin County Detention Center, according to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas to face charges there.

Then late Thursday afternoon, authorities arrested Glover’s brother, identified as Matthew Glover, also of Toccoa.

Fulghum said a tip led DNR and Stephens County Sheriff’s investigators to Currahee Mountain where Matthew Glover was located and placed under arrest.

Both are charged in Franklin County with two counts each of felony Theft By Taking and two counts each of Interference With Government Property for the thefts at Victoria Bryant State Park.

The brothers also face charges in Hart County.

Fulghum said they are each charged with one count of felony Theft by Taking and one count of Interference With Government Property for the Hart State Park thefts.

“The damage to the fee boxes at both parks will run into the hundreds of dollars,” Fulghum noted.

Thomas tells WNEG News Nicholas Glover was released Thursday from the Franklin County Detention Center on a $12,000 bond.

Thursday evening, Thomas said Matthew Glover was transferred to the Franklin County Detention Center from Stephens County and remains in custody.

Thomas said his investigators continue to work the case.