By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A homeless man remained in the county jail as midweek approached, charged with three felonies after he tried to steal an Atmore resident’s vehicle Sunday night, April 4.
According to the Escambia County Detention Center website, 35-year-old Antonio Theodore Triplett, who resides in Atmore but has no permanent address, was still awaiting a bond hearing late Monday, April 5.
He is being held on one count each of breaking and entering an automobile, third-degree robbery and first-degree theft.
Atmore Police Department reports show that officers were dispatched to an address on East Ashley Street around 6:20 p.m. in reference to the theft of a vehicle. When police arrived, the owner of the car told officers he witnessed Triplett stealing the vehicle and tried to stop him.
“The owner was able to pull Triplett out of the car while it was moving into a neighbor’s yard,” said Police Chief Chuck Brooks. “When our officers arrived, they immediately took him into custody.”
The breaking and entering charge is self-explanatory. The third-degree robbery charge stems from the theft taking place by force in the presence of the victim, and first-degree theft applies when a car of any value is alleged to have been stolen.
First-degree theft is a Class B felony, punishable upon conviction by 2-20 years in prison. The other two charges are Class C felonies, punishable by imprisonment of not more than 10 years but not less than one year and one day.