Clayton News Daily

By Linda Looney-Bond

lbond@news-daily.com

Three men have been indicted by a Clayton County grand jury on charges of breaking into one home on Emerald Drive in Jonesboro on July 16, and trying to break into another the same day.

Patrick Edward Barnett, 18, Kristopher Evan McClain, 18, and Jaron Naquay Lopes, 22, all of Jonesboro, were each indicted Wednesday on one count of burglary, one count of possession of tools for the commission of a crime, one count of conspiracy to commit burglary, one count of criminal attempted burglary, one count of theft by taking and one count of criminal trespassing.

Barnett was also indicted on five counts of financial transaction card theft and two additional counts of theft by taking.

The indictment and an arrest warrant allege the trio entered a home in the 2900 block of Emerald Drive after kicking in the door and breaking it off of its frame. Once inside, the three men allegedly stole numerous items, including a purse containing $1,500 in cash, an iPhone, an iPod, three pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a wallet containing several debit and credit cards.

The indictment also accuses the suspects of attempting to enter a home in the 2400 block of Emerald Drive the same day.

"Said accused did flee upon [the homeowner] exiting his home while armed," the indictment states.

According to court documents, Barnett and McClain are represented by public defender Richard Martin. Martin could not be reached for comment Thursday. Lopes' attorney, Darrell Reynolds, also could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Driver faces charges in Decatur man's death

In other action Wednesday, the grand jury indicted Robert Theodore Morris, of Jonesboro, on charges of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, felony with vehicle, improper lane change, and failure to stop at or return to the scene of an accident.

The indictment accuses Morris of causing the death of Anderson Barber, 44, of Decatur, on May 17, 2008. According to the indictment, Morris was driving under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly hit a vehicle Barber was driving.

Police said the incident occurred when Barber was driving a 2007 Toyota Tacoma northbound on Interstate 675, crossing over Ga. Highway 138, when he was hit from behind by a green Ford Taurus driven by Morris.