Judge's home allegedly burglarized by man previously in his courtroom
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A South Carolina magistrate whose home was burglarized over the weekend had previously granted bail to the suspect in a different case.
Prosecutors say the judge, James Gosnell of Charleston County, had set bail at $5,000 for the suspect when he appeared before Gosnell for a 2019 weapons charge, Live 5 News reports. Count on News 2 also has coverage.
The suspect, 22-year-old Brice Johnson, is accused of stealing items worth more than $37,000 from Gosnell’s home. Johnson is charged with grand larceny and first-degree burglary. Bail on the new charge was set at $150,000 Tuesday.
Gosnell told police that he returned from a camping trip and discovered that two computers, jewelry, silver flatware, two Rolex watches and vintage coins were missing from his home. Johnson was identified through surveillance footage.
The suspect was a friend of Gosnell’s nephew, who had access to Gosnell’s home while he was gone, according to Count on News 2.
A prosecutor said the suspect was allowed into the home to change clothes for a funeral, then came back with accomplices to steal the items, according to Live 5 News.
