A Stone County man has been arrested for burglary and theft of property belonging to his ex-wife.According to the probable cause affidavit, the Stone County Sheriff’s Department had been advised of a stolen vehicle. The victim reported her SUV had been taken from her property and suspected her ex-husband, 33-year-old Richard Clayton Branscum, had taken it the night before. When the victim returned to her residence, she found her vehicle there and a window to the residence broken. When she entered the home, she saw Branscum passed out in the bedroom.
The victim left the residence and called the sheriff’s department. She told authorities she believed Branscum had been using methamphetamine and drinking alcohol the night before. She also stated Branscum did not have permission to enter the residence, nor did he live there.
After the victim gave permission to enter the residence, officers made entry and called for anyone inside to come out with their hands up. Branscum was discovered sleeping in the master bedroom, where he was woken up and told to keep his hands where they could see them. After his rights were read, Branscum stated he did not want to speak without an attorney present. He was arrested and taken to the Izard County Detention Center.
When thhe victim met law enforcement at her residence to take her statement, they discovered the vehicle had been heavily damaged and credit cards along with personal identification records had been removed from her wallet. When officers asked Branscum where the items where, he stated they were in her purse. The victim found her purse in the washing machine, soaking in water. The items in question were still missing, but later the booking officer confirmed Branscum had the items in his possession.
Branscum is currently being held at the Stone County Detention Center on $50,000 bond. He is charges with one felony count of residential burglary and five felony counts of theft of property.
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