Teen charged in connection with break-ins

A Springfield teen is facing several burglary and receiving stolen property charges after sheriff’s detectives accused him of a string of Clark County break-ins.

Julius Southers, 18, is charged with one first-degree felony count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, five counts of burglary, three counts of receiving stolen property and one count of driving under suspension, according to Clark County Municipal Court records. He was arrested by Springfield police Sunday during a traffic stop.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office detectives allegedly connected the suspect to two November home burglaries on Seminole Avenue, as well as burglaries on Torrence Drive and South Pitchin Road.

Interviews of three teenagers apprehended by authorities Nov. 20 following a daytime burglary on Seminole Avenue helped identify Southers, sheriff’s Detective Todd Shillito said.

A witness to that burglary, a 14-year-old boy who was home from school when the group broke into his home, also helped, Shillito said.

“(His identification) was extremely important because some of these subjects aren’t from the Springfield or Clark County area, so if we don’t have somebody who can identify these people it’s very hard to pursue criminal charges,” he said.

Springfield police also plan to interview the suspect to see if there are any connections to additional burglaries last fall.

During Southers’ arraignment in Clark County Municipal Court on Monday, he pleaded not guilty and his bond for all of the cases totaled $90,500.

Due to living with his mother, Southers didn’t qualify for a public defender. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled later this month.

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