3 arrested in Mississippi County break-ins

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Two East Prairie, Mo., residents are in jail and another sent back to prison after a series of break-ins earlier this month.

According to a news release from the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department, vehicles were broken into and burglaries took place at six area homes and businesses from Aug. 2 to 8 and within a week three suspects were arrested.

Lance Simmerman, 19, was arrested Aug. 8 and charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree property damage, two counts of theft, tampering with a motor vehicle, stealing and a parole violation. He was returned to the Missouri Department of Corrections on a parole warrant.

Arrested along with Simmerman was Brian Burney, 24, who has been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle, and Susan Elizabeth Wallace Johnson, 34, who is charged with receiving stolen property and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Burney remains in the Mississippi County Detention Center with a bond of $25,000 and also faces charges in an adjoining county.

Johnson remains in jail with a $50,000 cash or surety bond and also faces charges in an adjoining county.

Sheriff Keith Moore said in a news release that the suspects "had the audacity to eat during one of the break-ins while the victims were sleeping."

Pertinent address:

Charleston, MO