Five nabbed in Hopkins County burglary ring

The Hopkins County Sheriff's Office has arrested five individuals in connection with several burglaries of vehicles and weapons, according to a press release.

While working an active burglary case, deputies made contact at approximately 11 p.m. last night with Rusty Lee Clay 36, of Winnsboro, Shawna Clay, 34 of Winnsboro and Lonni Hammond Allen, 39, of Royse City at a residence on County Road 2390 in Hopkins County, reports said. At that point, they allegedly learned the group had been selling stolen weapons, according to reports.

While they were at the CR 2390 location, a fourth man, Jeffrey Joseph Stogner, 34, of Sulphur Springs, arrived with what was allegedly a stolen weapon. At that time, all parties denied any knowledge of stolen weapons, reports said. 

Deputies left the scene, but came upon Stephen Joseph Bryant, 32, of Tyler, fixing a vehicle on the side of the road, the report said. A short distance away, deputies located not one, but two vehicles reported stolen out of Franklin County.

At that time Bryant allegedly admitted to his involvement in the unauthorized use of the motor vehicles, and stated he had taken multiple stolen weapons to the CR 2390 residence, the report said.

Deputies returned to the earlier scene, and once there, Rusty Clay and Stogner lead investigators to the woods where they had allegedly hidden eight stolen weapons under fallen brush, timber and leaves.

Investigators further recovered stolen tools, and inside a culvert found suspected methamphetamine weighing more than four grams as well as syringes, scales and other paraphernalia, the report said. 

Rusty Clay was booked in on charges of engage in organized criminal activity burglary of a habitation and possession of a schedule one controlled substance from four to 200 grams, for which he remains in jail and is not bond eligible, according to records. 

Shawna Clay was booked in on charges of engage in organized criminal activity, for which she remains in jail and is not bond eligible, according to records.

Lonni Allen was booked in on charges of engage in organized criminal activity, for which she remains in jail and is not bond eligible, according to records.

Stephen Bryant was booked in on charges of engage in organized criminal activity burglary of a habitation, for which he remains in jail and is not bond eligible, according to records.

Jeffrey Stogner was booked in on charges of tampering with evidence, and was released Sunday on a $15,000 bond, according to records.

HCSO would like to thank Sheriff Lewis Tatum, Investigators Wade Sheets and Dennis Findley as well as Franklin County Sheriff Ricky Jones and his investigators. 

The investigators showed "hard work and dedication to the cause of protecting our citizens and their property," Tatum said.