Jefferson City man gets probation for break-ins

A Jefferson City man was placed on two years unsupervised probation for pleading guilty to amended charges in connection with two break-ins in January 2012.

Ardaris Cheatham, 32, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and trespassing, both misdemeanors.

He had been charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of possession of heroin and one count of receiving stolen property, all felonies.

He was also ordered to complete 30 days shock detention, but was given credit for time served.

The break-ins occurred in the 3800 block of North Teal Bottom Road, near Osage Bend, and in the 100 block of Hidden Valley Road, near Henley. The two homes are about 13 miles apart, over two-lane roads.

A probable cause statement said a woman "admitted to driving Cheatham and two others around in her minivan while they broke into two different homes."

A deputy later conducted a traffic stop in Cole County on a vehicle Cheatham and another man were in.

They consented to a search of the vehicle, and guns matching the description of the ones reported stolen from the Teal Bottom Road and Hidden Valley Road burglaries were found.

Cheatham was arrested at that time on an active warrant.

Cole County Sheriff Greg White said it was likely that, "ultimately, these firearms would have been sold for cash, to purchase more heroin."