Authorities Nab Burglary Suspect

RUSK — Cherokee County Investigators have arrested Jimmy Lance Gilliland, 21, of Flint, pictured here, in connection with the September 13th residential burglary that occurred in the ShadyBrook Subdivision near Bullard. The total loss was estimated at $10,000. After photos and video from the surveillance system were shown on local news stations and on websites, the Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls beginning Saturday morning from people giving Gilliland as a possible suspect.

Deputies and investigators began following up, and they now say Gilliland and another man from Flint, Michael Taylor Oldham, 20, had allegedly taken some of the stolen property to Texican Coin and Bullion Company in Tyler, on the evening of the 13th, several hours after the burglary. Authorities say Gilliland and Oldham, who has not yet been implicated in the burglary, returned to Texican Coin & Bullion on the morning of September 14 with more of the coins, and their IDs, which authorities say were needed to sell the valuables.

Video from Texican Coin & Bullion was obtained while Investigators continued the search for Gilliland this past Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon Det. Mike Goff received a phone call from a relative of Gilliland, who advised he would bring him to the Sheriff’s Office first thing Wednesday morning. All but five of the stolen coins were recovered on Monday, and the pistols were recovered on Tuesday, when they were found stashed in the woods behind a home on Big Eddy Road in Smith County, according to officials. This past Wednesday morning around 9:00, Gilliland was brought to the Sheriff’s Office and was booked in on one count of Burglary of a Habitation, a 2nd Degree Felony. Gilliland’s bond was set at $25,000 by Justice of the Peace Brenda Dominy, and he was released several hours later after posting the bond.