PRINCETON —
A suspect a bloodhound helped to apprehend last August pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges relating to an earlier burglary.
Billy Ray Dudley Jr., 41, currently incarcerated at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, appeared in Mercer County Circuit Court for a plea hearing before Judge Derek Swope. Dudley pleaded guilty to burglary and grand larceny, according to information at the Mercer County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
The Mercer County Grand Jury indicted Dudley for both charges during its February session. Dudley is also facing charges stemming from an incident earlier this year near Montcalm.
Dudley was arrested Aug. 31 after a residential burglary was reported at Snow Vista Road off of Sandlick Road. Guns were stolen along with jewelry and rare coins, Lt. J.E. Parks of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department said at the time of the arrest.
Deputy D.A. Furches and his partner, Maggie, a bloodhound, were dispatched to the scene after Dudley and a male juvenile ran into the woods. A female suspect, Michelle Bailey, no age given, of Bluefield was apprehended at the scene.
Maggie led searchers through mountain terrain and briars while the sheriff’s department set up a perimeter around the area. The search ended after a six-mile chase in which both suspects emerged from the woods near Montcalm Elementary School. Both suspects surrendered when they saw that deputies and at least one West Virginia state trooper were waiting for them.
“Six miles through Appalachian territory will take the fight out of you,” Parks said after the arrests.
Dudley and the two other suspects face charges of burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy in connection with the Montcalm incident. Dudley was also facing an additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Parks said that Dudley, who has an extensive criminal record and is also facing charges in Virginia, is still awaiting action on those charges.
Dudley was remanded back to the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver. A disposition hearing was scheduled for Nov. 19.�
Local News
Related Photos
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Billy Ray Dudley Jr., 41, currently incarcerated at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, appeared in Mercer County Circuit Court for a plea hearing before Judge Derek Swope. Dudley pleaded guilty to burglary and grand larceny. Staff photo by Eric DiNovo
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Dudley pleads guilty to burglary charge
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