Burglars Caught in the Act

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – Two men were caught red-handed as they attempted to burglarize a Houston County residence on Nov. 24.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Kenneth Markeith Burton, 31 from Crockett, and Kammale Bernard Minor, 28 from Houston, were apprehended after an alert neighbor tipped off the property owner his residence was being burglarized.

The probable cause document indicated deputies with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence on County Road 2165 in reference to a burglary in progress on Friday of last week.

The aforementioned neighbor reported he was entering the property through an entrance gate when “… he observed a 2002 Silver Ford Escape with the back hatch open, loaded down with items, driving toward him from the residence.”

The affidavit indicated the neighbor spoke with the driver of the vehicle “… who identified himself as Kenneth Burton, Jr. who stated he was the owner of the property and that he had just come in to retrieve some things. Kammale Minor was the passenger in the vehicle with Kenneth Burton, Jr.”

After speaking with Burton, the neighbor called the actual owner of the property who informed him Burton was stealing from him and asked him to call the sheriff’s office.

Following the phone call to the property owner, the legal document stated Burton “… walked back to the Ford Escape and sped off leaving Kammale Minor behind. Burton drove the Ford Escape to the back of the property where he then ran off into the woods.”

Before being transported to the Houston County Jail, Minor admitted that he and Burton “… had entered the residence and took some items that Kenneth Burton, Jr. was then going to take and sell.”

Burton was not immediately located, but several hours later, HCSO deputies received information Burton might be at a residence in Latexo.

When the deputies arrived at the Latexo location, Burton “… fled the residence through the back door and hid in the woods nearby where he was apprehended by deputies and placed under arrest for an existing felony warrant.”

Burton was wanted in connection with two previous burglaries of the same CR 2165 residence. The first was alleged to have occurred on Nov. 10 and involved the theft of two mattresses.

The second burglary allegedly occurred on Nov. 17 and involved the theft of a china cabinet, dishes, couches, other furniture and various other household items.

Minor was booked into custody on one count of burglary of a habitation, a second degree felony. Burton was charged with three counts of burglary of a habitation and one count of theft.

According to Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Burton is held on bonds totaling $67,500 while Minor is held on a $20,000 bond.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].