McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy says deputies caught five burglars in the act at Sweetwater Airsoft.
Police were called to the business on County Road 275 Monday for a report of a theft in progress and found a Ford F-150 with two suspects inside, and as more deputies arrived, they found three more suspects at the corner of the property.
18 year-old Joshua Weber, 20 year-old James Whitner, 19 year-old Blake Fisher, 24 year-old Paiden Davis and a 17 year-old were taken into custody.
Guy says the stolen items were returned to the business owners as they were recovered.
- Joshua Weber, 18, of Vonore
- Two counts of burglary
- Two counts of theft over $1,000
- $56,000 bond
- James Whitner, 20, of Sweetwater
- Felony burglary
- Theft over $2,500
- $56,000 bond
- Blake Fisher, 19, of Athens
- Conspiracy to commit burglary
- $5,000 bond
- Paiden Davis, 24, of Vonore
- Conspiracy to commit burglary
- $10,000 bond
- 17-year-old juvenile
- Charged separately through juvenile court
(L-R) Joshua Weber, James Whitmer, Blake Fisher, Paiden Davis(MCSO)
“It appeared that Weber and the juvenile had been to the Airsoft business at some time before and had returned the night before with Whitner, Davis and Fisher and burglarized it,” said Guy. “They returned the next night to do the same. Weber, Whitner and the juvenile broke in while Davis and Fisher waited outside in the truck. Several of the airsoft guns and other accessories had been hidden in the nearby woods, and deputies were able to locate those and others the thieves had taken to the homes of Webber and the juvenile in Monroe County. Those were later recovered from both locations with the assistance of Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies.”
Guy said the stolen items were returned to the business owners as they were recovered.
