BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

DEBORD — The Martin County Sheriff’s Department apprehended a man wanted for a burglary and a second man.

Martin County 911 received a call Nov. 21 from a female who relayed that upon returning to her residence on North Wolf Creek, she interrupted a burglary in progress. Deputy Chris Sesco and Sheriff John Kirk responded to the scene.

“The homeowner opened her door after returning home and the suspect was inside the residence in plain sight,” Sheriff Kirk said. “To add insult to injury, the thief was the nephew of the homeowner and was immediately recognized by both her and her son.”

The suspect was identified as James Jeremy Jarvis, 35, of Inez.

“After realizing he had been spotted, Jarvis ran down the basement steps and through the outside door and fled the scene,” said Kirk.

“The suspect vandalized the house in an apparent attempt to make it look like it may have been juveniles. Besides the items that Jarvis successfully removed from the home, we found garbage bags full of a variety of items in the basement he planned to take. We also discovered more bags outside in brush and weeds beside the road. That leads us to believe he more than likely had an accomplice that was going to drive by and load the bags.”

Kirk said that just a couple of days before the burglary, Jarvis was positively identified as the person who broke into the Wolf Creek Community Church by entering through a window.

“The church had video cameras set up and they captured the break-in as it happened,” said Kirk. “So far, nothing has been reported as stolen from the church.”

Two months earlier, the sheriff’s department arrested Jarvis following a break-in at a garage. During that incident, Jarvis is said to have pulled his vehicle inside the garage and closed the door so no one would see him loading the items.

Due to the nature of the items that were stolen from his aunt’s residence, including a number of guns, an all-night hunt for Jarvis ensued and several Kentucky State Police troopers were dispatched to assist the sheriff’s department.

After receiving information that the suspect was possibly at the home of John Henry Jude, age 54, of Davis Branch in Debord, the officers traveled to that location and spoke with Jude, who adamantly denied that Jarvis was there. However, during a search of the residence, the officers located Jarvis hiding inside a clothes dryer.

“While taking Jarvis into custody, we discovered a firearm under the couch where Jude had been seated,” said Kirk.

Jude was arrested and charged with convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Although Jarvis denied stealing anything from his aunt’s residence, he agreed to lead the state troopers to an abandoned property on Davis Branch where the guns had been taken.

Law enforcement also seized passports, credit and debit cards and blank checks that belonged to Jarvis’ aunt and cousin. Jarvis had those items in his possession.

Jarvis is facing one count of first-degree burglary, resisting arrest, theft of identity without consent and receipt of stolen credit and debit cards.