Dateline: March 8, 2007

Two men confess to burglary crime
 

Two men are in the Donley County Jail this week after pleading guilty to burglarizing a habitation last Monday.

Jason Winegart of Lefors and Travis Ray Smith of Enid, Okla., are awaiting transferal to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Safe P Program, a nine-month drug rehabilitation program.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a report February 9 of a break-in at a house and barn owned by John Lee Bell in northern Donley County. Several guns, hunting supplies, and tools had been taken, and the only clues left were tire and foot prints.

Three days later, a tip was received that named Winegart as a possible suspect in the break-in. Blackburn contacted the Pampa Police Department and the Gray County Sheriff’s Department, and Winegart was stopped February 16  by a Gray County deputy and held for questioning.

Blackburn and Chief Deputy Randy Bond traveled to Pampa and found an antique bear trap that matched Bell’s property during a search of Winegart’s vehicle.

Winegart, age 31, gave a full confession to the crime and gave up Smith, age 25, as his accomplice, Blackburn said. Smith also later confessed.

“This is a prime example of how two departments from two different jurisdictions can work together to solve crimes,” Blackburn said.

The sheriff’s office has since recovered 20 guns and some tools belonging to Bell.

Winegart and Smith were each ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution and will receive 10 years of probation if they successfully complete the Safe P Program.