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A Lincoln County man was charged Friday morning with breaking into a neighbor’s home, and sheriff’s deputies said they found him passed out in a nearby field with his 20-month-old child beside him.
Clarence Ray Barnette, 46, of 4493 Maiden Highway, Lincolnton, was charged with breaking into the home next door while no one was at home, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Officials said he ransacked the home and took a revolver, money and cordless telephones.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, Deputy T. Glover and Sgt. R. Jefferies arrived at the home and found the front door kicked in and the inside of the home ransacked, the Sheriff’s Office said.
They found the revolver discarded in the driveway, and neighbors told officers they saw Barnette leaving the area of the house and walking south on Maiden Highway.
Soon after, officials said, the deputies found Barnette lying about 50 yards off Maiden Highway. The man was passed out with his 20-month-old child by his side.
The temperature was about 40 degrees at the time. The Department of Social Services has taken custody of the child, officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Barnette and recovered jewelry, money, phones, prescription pills and a stuffed toy taken from the victim’s home.
Barnette was charged with one felony count each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and possession of stolen goods. He was charged with one misdemeanor count each of child abuse and failure to appear, as well.
He was placed in the Harven A Crouse Detention Center under a $17,500 secured bond.
