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Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009

Bibb deputy’s son accused of stealing guns, vehicle from another deputy’s home

The son of a Bibb County deputy is accused of burglarizing the home of another Bibb deputy and stealing six guns, according to information released today by the sheriff’s office.

Jonathan Hart, 25, of Macon was charged with theft by taking and criminal damage to property on June 18, the day after witnesses saw him using a stolen Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle to pull a truck out of the mud, said Chief Deputy David Davis.

Davis said the utility vehicle belonged to Major David Montford.

On June 19, Montford realized several weapons also had been stolen from his home, Davis said.

“No county or sheriff’s office weapons were involved,” he said, adding it appears as though the utility vehicle and weapons were stolen at two separate times.

Hart told deputies he sold the guns for drugs and pointed out a house in the 4400 block of Marion Avenue where he’d sold the guns, Davis said.

Deputies served a search warrant at the house on June 19. Although they didn’t find anything at the home, deputies gained information that one of the guns might be in an abandoned house next door, he said.

Entering through an open rear door, deputies found Montford’s shotgun beside the boarded up front door of the house, Davis said.

Deputies are working with the District Attorney’s Office to include a burglary charge when Hart is indicted for the theft and criminal damage charges, according to a news release.

Although the incidents were reported two weeks ago, Davis said information was withheld because deputies were still investigating the burglary charges as late as Monday and Tuesday.

He said Hart didn’t receive any special treatment because he’s a deputy’s son. His father, Lt. Wayne Hart, is assigned to the sheriff’s office’s training division.

“He was brought into the jail and released on bond,” Davis said. Jail records show Hart was released on $16,100 bond Friday.

He said the incidents were investigated without giving any special treatment to the victim, Montford, who heads up the sheriff’s office’s criminal investigations division.

“We want to do everything we can to get the guns off the street, whether it’s a deputy's guns or someone else’s,” Davis said.

Bibb County deputies are still working to locate five of the stolen guns. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 746-9441.

Read Thursday’s Telegraph for more on this story.