Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Man for Burglary

On Thursday, December 14th, deputies with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office responded to a local business located in the 7000 block of North Street in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival deputies learned that sometime during the night unknown persons had made entry into the business and had stolen several items such as checks,  laptop computers, security cameras hard drive and other electronic equipment.  

During the investigation deputies learned that one of the checks that had been stolen had been cashed at a local bank.  It was discovered that the person that had originally written the check to the business had left the pay to the order of the check blank. Deputies responded to the bank and found that the check was now made payable to a different person.  It was also discovered that the subject that had forged the check had presented a form of identification to the bank with what appeared to be an alias name. Deputies reviewed video footage from the bank and gained information on the suspect's vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office was able to identify a possible suspect in the case and bank employees were able to make a positive identification of the suspect. Investigators gained enough probable cause for a warrant for the suspect’s arrest and went to his residence which was located close to the business that was burglarized. During the arrest, investigators found stolen checks on the suspect’s person from the business. Investigators gained permission to search the suspect’s residence, which lead to the discovery of the rest of the stolen merchandise that was taken from the business. Investigators also found the alias identification card that the suspect had presented to the bank.

Johnathon French, 36, was arrested and charged with burglary of a building, a state jail felony, and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail. French was also charged with two counts of forgery, a state jail felony.