Two Ironton men will face a preliminary trial this week in connection of breaking and entering several residential outbuildings and garages during the first weekend of September.

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

Two Ironton men will face a preliminary trial this week in connection of breaking and entering several residential outbuildings and garages during the first weekend of September.

Gary L. Minard, 22, of 2804 S. Fifth St., Ironton, and Benjamin Hughes, 26, of 2722 1/2 S. Sixth St., Ironton, were taken into custody Sept. 3, for the breaking and entering of two outbuildings on the 2600 block of South Sixth Street and one outbuilding on the 2500 block of South Fifth Street.

"We received several complaints late Saturday evening, early Sunday morning of three different residents who were victims of a breaking and entering," Ironton police Detective Captain Chris Bowman said. "Later Sunday morning, officers received confidential information that these two suspects were involved in the incidents."

He said an investigation was launched following the information and items were also found to be stolen.

Investigators discovered that the two men had taken a numerous amount of carpentry tools and mechanical tools.

"When we began investigating the complaints, we discovered that these two guys had been busy at what they were doing," he said. "They were breaking into these outbuildings/garages and stealing items such as weed-eaters, drills, circular saws and auto-mechanic tools."

Bowman said investigations will continue look at the possibility of other break-in the two men may have been involved in.

"At this point, we know they were involved in at least three breaking and enterings," he said. "We don’t have any evidence at this time of any other involvement in other incidents that have occurred in the south end of Ironton."

He said the stolen items from the last two buildings broken in were recovered.

"We were able to recover all of the items stolen from the last two buildings they broke into," he said. "Most of the items they removed from the first building they broke into has been recovered."

He said both Hughes and Minard were arrested and arraigned on Sept. 5 following the Labor Day weekend.

"They are being charged with three counts each of breaking and entering," Bowman said. "They both face a fifth degree felony punishable by up to 12 months jail-time and a maximum fine of $2,500."