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Johnson County man pleads guilty to laundry list of crimes

BY TARA FASOL, The Southern

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 7:40 AM CDT

JOHNSON COUNTY — A Buncombe man pleaded guilty Aug. 20 to a laundry list of criminal charges and will face a sentencing hearing at 1 p.m. Oct. 1.

Christopher Hedrick, 18, pled guilty to one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony; two counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies; one count of aggravated possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 1 felony; and a petition to revoke probation based on an underlying charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony.

Hedrick could receive up to 15 years for the Class 1 felony, seven years for the Class 2 felony, and three years for a Class 4 felony.

Hedrick was sentenced to probation in August 2007 when he was found to be in possession of a shotgun for which he did not have a valid firearm owner’s identification card.

In September 2007, Hedrick committed his first criminal offense since being placed on that probation, according to a release by the Johnston County state’s attorney’s office.

State’s Attorney Tricia Shelton said Hedrick stole a can filled with gasoline from a shed in Buncombe, possibly on more than one occasion.

The homeowner told Johnson County Sheriff Elry Faulkner of the repeated gas thefts and Faulkner investigated.

During that investigation, the sheriff placed a gas can in the shed as a decoy. The can was filled mostly with water but enough gas was present to preserve the smell.

Hedrick stole the gas can and emptied it into his truck, causing his vehicle to break down in the road not far from the residence.

Faulkner then questioned Hedrick, who he eventually confessed.

Shelton filed a petition to revoke probation at that time. Hedrick posted bond and was released from custody.

While out on bond, he was involved in an accident that required him to undergo surgery and various other medical procedures that delayed the pending criminal proceedings.

In April 2008, Hedrick committed a residential burglary in which he stole a gun from a safe and four guns from the residence of a Buncombe man.

Shortly after the guns were reported missing, police received information that Hedrick was trying to sell weapons matching those that were stolen.

Hedrick was questioned by police and later confessed to the crimes. The guns were later recovered from his shed, as were other stolen items.