By Roslyn Ryan
Editor

Powhatan County law enforcement officials announced last Friday that they had made two arrests in connection with a string of burglaries that occurred in Powhatan in recent months.

Maurice J. Becton, 29, and Dominyce J. Brown, 24, both residents of Chesterfield, were taken into custody Sept. 13 after a lengthy investigation by officers from 18 jurisdictions. 

According to Det. Kevin Wolfe with the Powhatan Sheriff’s Department, the two have now been linked to over 80 residential burglaries, nine of which occurred in Powhatan. Both had been under surveillance since early August, he said.

Items stolen included flat screen televisions, other home electronics and jewelry.

The most recent burglary the two are alleged to have committed in Powhatan occurred August 3 on Genito Road.

Powhatan County Sheriff Greg Neal stressed last Friday that the arrest of the two suspects highlighted the benefit of teamwork between law enforcement jurisdictions, particularly when it comes to crime sprees of this nature.

“The people who commit these crimes don’t know any boundaries,” said Neal, “so it is so important that everyone is able to work together.”

Among those working on the case were the Hanover and Chesterfield County police departments.

Wolfe said Friday that the investigation remains open, and that the department is still hopeful that it can recover at least some of the stolen property.

As of last Friday, Becton was being held without bond, charged in Powhatan with breaking and entering, grand larceny and felony vandalism. He is also charged in Chesterfield with possession of stolen goods and illegal possession of a weapon.

His case has been continued until Oct. 15.

Brown is also charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny and felony vandalism. Her case has been continued until Dec. 10.