Midland City teen faces multiple felonies in connection to burglary ring

A Midland City teenager who was out on bond for a pending burglary charge is behind bars again after Dale County authorities charged him earlier this week in connection to a six-month-long burglary ring.

Dale County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested Joshua Michael Corley, 19, of Adams Street, and charged him with two felony counts of third-degree burglary, a single felony count of second-degree theft of property and misdemeanor third-degree theft of property.

“He’s made admission to participating in some of the burglaries,” Dale County Sheriff’s Investigator Harvey Mathis said. “He went out with some of the investigators and pointed out the homes that were either broken into or attempted ... .”

Mathis said more charges are pending in the ongoing investigation.

“By the size of the items taken they couldn’t be carried by one person,” Mathis said. “We definitely believe there’s other people involved.”

One other person has been charged, Levi Dewberry II, 39, of Newton, but investigators have not been able to locate him. Dewberry was charged with felony receiving stolen property. Dewberry previously pleaded guilty in 1994 to felony possession of a controlled substance.

Mathis said the property was reportedly stolen over the past six months, and included various items from jewelry to guns and televisions, to laptop computers and cameras. He said investigators served a search warrant at Corley’s Midland City home Friday. He said deputies believe at least 11 residences were burglarized, and possibly more.

“They’re taking large quantities of stuff,” Mathis said.

Corley is being held without bond at the Dale County Jail. Corley was previously out on bond for a third-degree burglary and felony theft charge from March 4. He was previously released on a $5,000 bond.

According to court records, Corley also has a pending third-degree burglary case filed by Houston County Sheriff’s investigators on March 6, for an alleged burglary in February.

“We have some people that are stealing property, taking it to a house to store it and then we have a place that’s buying the stolen property,” Mathis said. “This isn’t a one-man operation, it’s almost like a planned operation.”