A Mocksville man with a history of drug use appeared in Davie Superior Court Aug. 16.

Jimmy Russell, 43, stole to support his drug habit, according to prosecutors, and was charged with eight counts of felony breaking and/or entering, eight counts felony larceny after breaking and entering, three counts felony larceny, habitual breaking/entering, and possession/distribution of a methamphetamine precursor.

Assistant DA Rob Taylor told Judge Lori Hamilton, “Clear and plain, this is due to tremendous substance abuse issues.”

According to Taylor, Russell, Joseph Reid, and a “variation of assistants” that may have included his daughter, LeAnn Russell and Lucretia Marcum, who Russell married three days before he was in court, broke into homes under construction where they knew appliances would have been delivered. The thefts took place from June to August 2016 at homes off Wyatt Drive, Sawgrass Drive, Cedar Park Drive, Crestwood Court and others. One home was hit twice, Taylor said. Items stolen included ranges, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and even a two-ton air conditioning unit.

In September 2016, Russell and Reid stole approximately eight Enterprise  Record newspaper racks.

Shortly after that, a confidential source placed a call to Davie Social Services to alert them that methamphetamine was being cooked in the presence of a child at a home off Dance Hall Road. When a welfare check was conducted, Russell answered the door of the residence that was being rented by his daughter, and law enforcement saw evidence of the drug operation. At that point, Taylor said, the Russells and Reid “all three seemed to come clean. This was a group that lived from one high to the next, smoking anything they could get their hands on.”

LeAnn Russell told authorities Reid did “the cooking.”

Russell and the others also bought pseudoephedrine, used to make meth and were charged with that.

Russell’s attorney, Lynne Hicks, said, “He has made the statement to me on multiple occasions that he has a substance abuse issue. The monkey on his back has got a tight hold on him.”

Hamilton said it disturbed her that Russell was involved in drugs with his daughter. He also has a young teenager.

Reid is in prison for his involvement in the crimes, and both LeAnn Russell and Marcum are on probation.

Russell was sentenced to 50 to 72 months in prison on the habitual breaking/entering charge. He was fined $500 and must pay restitution of $7,874.76 and an attorney fee of $1,200. He must obtain a substance abuse assessment and treatment as well as psychiatric and psychological counseling. He was given credit for 178 days in jail.

On the eight breaking and/or entering charges, one felony larceny charge and the methamphetamine charge, he was sentenced to 50 to 72 months at the expiration of the previous sentence. He must obtain a substance abuse assessment and treatment, as well as psychiatric and psychological treatment. The eight larceny after breaking/entering charges and two larceny charges were dismissed as part of the plea arrangement.