Toccoa Couple Indicted on Church Burglaries in Franklin County
A Franklin County Grand Jury has indicted a Toccoa couple for burglarizing and vandalizing two churches.
Joshua Franklin Spearman and MeganLynn Spearman were indicted on two counts each of burglary in the second degree and two counts each of vandalism to a place of worship.
The burglaries happened in May. Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said the first happened May 4th at New Bethel Baptist Church off SR320 in Carnesville.
There the Spearmans allegedly ransacked offices and rooms, broke out doors and door frames and destroyed the church safe.
The other burglary happened at King’s Branch Baptist Church on Hwy 198 near the Banks County line.
There, the indictment alleges the couple damaged windows and doors by prying them open.
In both cases, Franklin County Sheriff’s investigators say numerous items had been stolen.
Thomas said evidence collected at both scenes led investigators to look for a gold Chevy Blazer SUV driven by the Spearmans.
Thomas said Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies later spotted the SUV in Toccoa and a chase ensued. After capturing the Spearman’s deputies say they found some of the stolen property inside the Spearman’s SUV.
Other items Thomas said were recovered by his deputies as well.
Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said the couple allegedly also hit the Toccoa First Alliance Church where purses were reported stolen, and are suspects in burglaries at two churches in Martin.
In Stephens County, the Spearmans are charged with two counts of burglary, one count of entering auto, and one count of obstruction of law enforcement officers.