FROM STAFF REPORTS

A couple faces more than a dozen felony charges in connections with a string of storage unit break-ins in southern Iredell County.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Amanda Sue Jones, 38, and Robert Dale Morton, 29, both of Ewart Road, Huntersville, in a news release Wednesday.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office began investigating in December after receiving numerous reports from residents in the Troutman and Mooresville areas about multiple storage units being broken into, Campbell said.

In each of the incidents, the victims reported the locks had been cut off several storage units and items stolen from inside. These reports were assigned to Detectives C. Davidson and K. Sherard for further investigation.

The detectives interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance video recovered from the areas of the break-ins. As a result, they identified a vehicle used during the break-ins as a Ford Expedition, the sheriff said.

Additional evidence led the detectives to identify Jones and Morton as suspects, according to the news release. Detectives also learned the suspects’ 4-year-old daughter was in the vehicle with them while they were committing some of the crimes, Campbell said.

As a result of the investigation, warrants were obtained for the suspects’ arrests. Both suspects were located and arrested at a motel in Huntersville on Monday, January 8.

Jones and Morton were transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were each charged with seven counts of felony breaking or entering, seven counts of felony conspiracy, and seven counts of misdemeanor child abuse.

Jones was issued a $250,000 secured bond by Magistrate R. Imes, and Morton was issued a $250,000 secured bond issued by Magistrate M. Nethken.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the case and have learned both Jones and Morton may face charges in other jurisdictions. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is currently assisting other law enforcement agencies to help clear their cases.