FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two suspects face numerous felony charges following an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office investigation into a string of break-ins at a self-storage facility located on Buffalo Shoals Road near Statesville.
Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Thomas Edward Mounts, 53, and Stephanie Elaine Mounts, 40, both of Troutman Shoals Road, Statesville, in a news release on Monday.
The ICSO began investigating after receiving numerous reports between September 2020 and July 2021 related to break-ins involving several storage units at a business located at 1324 Buffalo Shoals Road, Campbell said. Numerous items of property were reported stolen in these cases.
ICSO Property Crimes Division investigators interviewed victims, witnesses, and all of the employees of the business throughout these investigations.
After a lengthy investigation, in which all of the evidence and information was analyzed, investigators determined that an employee or employees were responsible for the crimes. The employees were identified as Thomas and Stephanie Mounts, who were responsible for general maintenance at the location, Campbell said.
On Tuesday, July 13, investigators received information about stolen property being kept at a camper behind a residence on Troutman Shoals Road southwest of Statesville, according to the news release.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators located several items which had been reported as stolen, including power tools, weed eaters, a table saw, air compressors, and various hand tools, Campbell said. The approximate value of the recovered property was $3,000.
On Wednesday, July 14, investigators obtained felony arrest warrants for Thomas Mounts and Stephanie Mounts.
The two suspects were arrested and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.
Thomas Mounts was charged with five counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, five counts of Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering, two counts of Felony Larceny of a Firearm, Felony Larceny by Employee, Felony Larceny, Misdemeanor Larceny, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver Methamphetamine, and Felony Maintaining a Dwelling for the purpose of Sell and Delivering Methamphetamine. He appeared before Magistrate Hollar, who issued a $100,000 secured bond on these charges and was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.
Stephanie Elaine Mounts was charged with five counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, five counts of Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering, Felony Larceny by Employee, Felony Larceny of a Firearm, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver Methamphetamine, Felony Maintain a Dwelling for the Purpose of Sell and Deliver Methamphetamine. She also appeared before Magistrate Hollar, who issued a $100,000 secured bond on these charges.