A 31-year-old Roanoke Rapids man was charged Sunday in a breaking, entering and larceny in the Colonial Drive area of Roanoke Rapids.

Lt. Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release shortly after midnight Sunday Deputy Joe Sealy received a breaking and entering call.

When the deputy arrived he noticed a 36-inch television sitting in the front yard with a blanket on top and a VCR sitting by the road along with a navy blue pillowcase.

While at scene a witness approached Deputy Sealy and told the officer he saw someone he knew carrying items from the victim’s house. 

The witness said when the suspect saw him he quickly went back to his house.

Deputy Sealy learned the victim was on vacation and noticed the side door glass was broken out and the door damaged. 

When Deputy Sealy looked inside several items were turned over.

The deputy talked to the suspect, James Michael Doughten, who came to the door sweating profusely. Deputy Sealy saw two navy blue pillowcases on the couch, which matched the ones in the victim’s yard, Martin said in the news release.

With assistance from Deputy Corey Griffin, Sealy spoke to Doughten, who allegedly told the officers he was responsible for the breaking and entering. 

Deputy Sealy charged Doughten with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, two counts of possession of stolen goods, larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and injury to real property,

Doughten was jailed on $25,000 bond and has a Sept. 30 court date.

This case was solved, Martin said, because of neighbors looking out for one another. “The witness coming forward and assisting Deputy Sealy really aided him in finding the person responsible for this breaking and entering,” he said in the news release.