BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LOVELY — A local man was arrested after he was allegedly involved in a burglary caught on camera Thursday evening on Buck Branch Road in Lovely, where two valuable guitars were stolen.

James Hackney, 41, of Lovely, was arrested Monday by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office on burglary and criminal mischief charges.

Chief Deputy Chris Kidd, responding to the victim’s call Friday, utilized video surveillance from the area to trace a blue ATV seen leaving the victim’s residence around 7:30 p.m. Thursday with what appears to be the two guitars on the back of a male passenger.

Police traced the ATV to Hackney.

Upon his arrest on Lackey Branch Road in Pilgrim, Hackney reportedly provided a detailed account of the events. He recounted that he and an accomplice went to the victim’s home, and the accomplice went inside the home and exited a short time later with the two guitars.

Hackney detailed their failed attempt to sell the stolen guitars and their subsequent return to the accomplice’s home, where he left both the accomplice and the guitars.