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By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

PELHAM– Birmingham resident Willie James Mansfield, 68, was arrested on Friday, Dec. 15 at 2:02 p.m. on multiple charges of burglary and theft of property.

The first of Mansfield’s crimes are said to have begun on Monday, Oct. 30 at 9 p.m. when he forcibly entered an unoccupied building of Southern Woodsmith. At 6:30 p.m. Mansfield reportedly stole roughly $8,605 worth of property that consisted of multiple power tools, batteries and Jorgensen clamps.

Court documents indicate that two months later, Mansfield went on to commit another theft when he broke into Tubbs Co. on Tuesday, Dec. 12. While in Tubbs Co. Mansfield is said to have stolen roughly $10,000 worth of clothing.

Ultimately, Mansfield was arrested for both burglaries on Friday, Dec. 15 at 2:02 p.m. He was taken to Shelby County Jail, in Columbiana, where Mansfield is being held on a bond of $80,000. His charges break down as follows:

• Two counts of third-degree burglary.
• Two counts of first-degree theft of property, as the items stolen exceed more than $2,500 in estimated value.

In the state of Alabama, first-degree theft of property is a class B felony and comes with the potential penalty of two to 20 years in prison. 

Previously, Mansfield was arrested for second-degree theft of property on March 23 when he stole two rings, a chime credit card, a purse and a wallet from one Joanna Henderson. He was released on bond for these charges on July 3. It is unknown if these prior charges will affect any judgments carried out against him.

At this time, a date for Mansfield’s trial has yet to be determined.