Judge sets bond at arraignment

Two people wanted by Ironton police for a November theft were arrested Monday morning and arraigned in Ironton Municipal Court later that afternoon.

Marcus Birchfield, 34, and Michelle Crank, 28, both of 514 N. Sixth St. Ironton, are accused of stealing cigarettes from the University Mart on Liberty Avenue Nov. 11.

“They went in and distracted the employees and stole 10 cartons of cigarettes,” Ironton Police Det. Capt. Chris Bowman said. “We reviewed the (security camera) video from the theft and put warrants out but we had not seen them until this point. I was driving down the street and there they were. They’ve just been avoiding us.”

Birchfield was arraigned Monday on one count of theft; Crank on one count of complicity to theft.

Judge O. Clark Collins set bond at $2,150 for Birchfield and appointed attorney Scott Evans to represent him. Collins set a $500 own recognizance bond for Crank and appointed attorney Mike Davenport to represent her. Both Birchfield and Crank must return to court Feb. 2 for pretrial conferences.

Birchfield remains in the Lawrence County Jail; Crank posted bond.

Bowman said the value of the 10 cartons of cigarettes was approximately $584.