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Tire theft suspects plead not guilty

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Despite an eyewitness account from an off-duty sheriff’s investigator, two suspected tire thieves told the court Monday they are not guilty of the crimes they are accused of.

Phaedra Parks of Atlanta, an attorney for music producer Manuel Seal Jr., waived Seal’s arraignment and entered a not guilty plea. Stacey Flynn, an attorney for Seal’s co-defendant, Wendale Baxton, also waived his arraignment and entered a not guilty plea.

Their arraignments were scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.

Both men face misdemeanor counts of theft by taking and criminal trespassing, which stems from a Feb. 1 incident at Fayette Tire in Fayetteville.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Investigator Kris Purkey allegedly observed the men load two scrap tires, valued at $100, into Seal’s red Jeep Cherokee and called the police.

When questioned, Seal allegedly told police that a man named “Larry,” gave him permission to take the tires. However, the owner, Donald Thomas, reportedly confirmed that no one named Larry worked at the store.

Seal, 44, of Trolling Way, Fayetteville, and Baxton, 21, of Queen’s Way, Jonesboro, are out of jail on a $2,400 bond. Their trials have been scheduled for July 18, according to Fayette County court records.