Pair Arrested in String of Thefts at DNR Wildlife Management Areas

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested two people in connection with a string of thefts at Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Areas, that included parks in Hart and Stephens counties.

Last week, GBI agents arrested 22- year old James Arthur Graham, 22 of Lawrenceville and 20-year old Parker Lewis Dean of Braselton.

Both are charged with theft by receiving stolen property.

Agents say the pair went on a burglary spree targeting wildlife management areas from May of this year until their arrests last week.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Office was originally requested to conduct the investigation into burglaries at Stephens County, Dawson County, and Lumpkin County WMA’s in June 2019.

As the investigation evolved, it was determined that additional burglaries occurred, both before the GBI investigation and during the investigation, in Hart, Putnam, Burke, Greene, McDuffie, Bartow, Marion and Dooly Counties.

Additionally, the above suspects are believed to be responsible for a burglary at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge.

GBI spokesperson Nellie Miles tells WLHR News the similarities between the burglaries led investigators to believe the same people were responsible for the burglaries identified in the investigation.

Approximately $50,000 worth of equipment was stolen during the burglaries.

Miles said the majority of the items have been recovered as a result of search warrants done in Gwinnett and Barrow Counties last week.

The GBI Cleveland Office worked jointly with the DNR Law Enforcement Division to conduct this statewide investigation.

The GBI Athens, Thompson, and Americus Offices as well as local law enforcement partners were also integral to the investigation.

Graham was arrested and booked at the Gwinnett County Jail and Dean was arrested and booked at the Barrow County Jail.

Upon completion of the investigation, the case file will be provided to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for prosecution. Additional charges for both Graham and Dean are expected.