Teenagers arrested for burglaries

A trio of teenagers is facing multiple burglary charges with additional charges pending related to alleged break-ins at multiple Neshoba County Fair cabins along with the wrecking of a Fair Association golf cart, according to Sheriff Eric Clark.

The individuals arrested and charged with eight counts of burglary each were:

• Derek Dunn,18, 10391 Road 1535;

• William Eubanks, 18, 10630 Road 836l

• A 16-year-old juvenile who was not identified. 

Clark said that more charges are possible as the investigation continues. 

Clark also said he has talked to Fair Association board members who have said they will consider their own sanctions for those found guilty.

The arrests stem from an incident that occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3 when deputies responded to the Neshoba County Fairgrounds after the caretaker reported a fire at the horse barns.

According to Clark, the caretaker was awakened by three young males knocking on his door to report the fire. They stated they saw the fire and used a nearby water hose to extinguish the blaze. 

“The horse stall sustained minimal damage,” Clark said.

Dunn, Eubanks, and the juvenile were then recognized from a call earlier in the week, where a golf cart had been vandalized and another where as many as five Fair cabins had been compromised, Clark said.

Dunn and Eubanks were detained for questioning. Later in the morning, officials said both teenagers were charged with eight counts of burglary of a Fair cabin as they allegedly broke into the cabins with intent to commit another crime.

He said more charges are pending as the Sheriff’s Office awaits a value of damages to the rented golf cart.

“I encourage Neshoba County Fair Cabin owners to go to their cabin and carefully inspect the cabin for damage,” Clark said. “The violators could not identify all the cabins they had burglarized.”

Clark said he has been notified of at least two more cabins that were compromised since the arrests and is awaiting further reports from the cabin owners to see if more charges will be brought.

The initial break-ins were reported to have happened on July 30. 

The five cabins broken into were along Dookie Creek, Clark said. He said the incident was reported around 2:45 a.m. when a cabin owner reported that he had scared off a group trying to break into his cabin. 

The victim reported hearing the sound of broken glass and talking before a door was kicked in. Clark said the man then turned on a light and went to investigate, which scared the vandals away.

Clark said they had kicked in the door of a neighboring cabin and attempted to make off with a painting from that cabin before discarding it during their escape.

On Monday night, July 31, between 9:30 and 10 p.m. three suspects took a Fair Association golf cart for a “joyride,” Clark said. 

The three male juveniles were seen driving around the Fairgrounds. He said the trio caused extensive damage to the front end of the golf cart when it was rammed into a picnic table around Cabin 909.

Further charges could range from burglary to malicious mischief, Clark said.

Clark described the spate of incidents as “just meanness.” Clark said he has talked to several cabin owners who were “irate” to hear that their property had been compromised.

“We expect to respond to calls during the Fair but after the Fair, we do not expect the mischief to pick up and get worse,’ Clark said. 

He went on to note that the NCSO had responded to calls during the Fair ranging from missing children to car burglaries to a report of a fight and vandalism.

If you have any information on criminal activity in Neshoba County, call (601) 656-1414 or East Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-8477.