Brookville Burglaries Solved, Five Arrested

By Mike Perleberg (left to right) James Smith, Trevor O'Neal, Dakota Gray, and Kayne Cornett. Photos by Franklin County Sheriff's Dept. (Brookville, Ind.) - Citizen tips helped Brookville Police identify and arrest five people connected to various burglaries around town. Businesses including Morgan’s Canoe, The Hearthstone Restaurant, Ye Olde Shack, Gillman’s Do it Best Hardware, and Arby’s were burglarized or had attempted break-ins ranging from August into October, according to court affidavits. In all, there may have been as many as 15 burglaries in Franklin County committed by one or more of the suspects, with additional related cases in neighboring Ripley, Fayette, and Hamilton counties. The suspects include James “Scrappy” Smith, 30, of Brookville; Trevor O’Neal, 21, of Brookville; Kayne Cornett, 20, of Metamora; and Dakota Gray, 19, of Brookville. A fifth suspect is a male juvenile. Each were charged on October 29 in Franklin County with varying counts of Burglary. O’Neal is believed to have been involved in the most burglaries and faces one count of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (level 2 felony) and four counts of Burglary (level 5 felony). Smith is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (level 2 felony). Gray faces two counts of Burglary (level 5 felony). Cornett faces one charge of Burglary (level 5 felony). Brookville Police were led to the suspects by a citizen who had heard Gray bragging about the break-ins. According to the witness, Gray said “that they would never be caught and that they burn their shoes after each job so that shoe prints can never be tracked back to them for any job.” One would-be victim also helped police in identifying the group of alleged thieves. The Ohio resident told investigators that Smith and O’Neal had come to his home in an attempt to rob him at gunpoint, but were scared off by the resident’s dog. The victim had followed the suspects’ vehicle back to a home on 7th Street in Brookville where Smith was residing. The suspects would usually target electronics, safes, and cash, according to the court documents.