A local man linked to a break-in and theft of firearms and other items has been apprehended and jailed on several charges, according to information from Sampson County Sheriff’s authorities.

Edwin Gonzalez Martinez, 46, whose listed address is 45 Hill Crest Lane, Faison, with an alternate address on Oliver Lane, Clinton, has been charged with breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, possession of stolen firearm and possession of firearm by a felon, all felony offenses. He also received misdemeanor charges of no operator’s license and speeding.

Martinez was reportedly taken into custody Tuesday on Weeping Willow Lane, Clinton.

According to reports, warrants on the felony charges were taken out on Oct. 20 in connection with a break-in reported two days earlier. Warrants on the misdemeanor offenses were issued Sept. 1.

Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith said the victim of the break-in and larceny, listed as Peter Byrd of King Road, told deputies he returned home on Oct. 18 and discovered someone had entered the residence and removed several items. The incident was reported around 5 p.m. that day, believed to have occurred between 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

According to the initial incident report, the suspect or suspects entered the King Road home through a rear window and stole a .270-caliber rifle, valued at $440; duel-caliber pellet rifle, valued at $250; 8-inch tablet, valued at $220; and corded drill. Reports state that the two rifles have since been recovered.

This is not the first time Martinez has been arrested on felony break-in and larceny charges. He was convicted in Sampson County in July 2012 of felony breaking and entering and larceny, stemming from incidents three months earlier, the N.C. Department of Public Safety records show. He had his suspended sentence and probation from a previous break-in and larceny revoked and was sentenced to just shy of six months in prison, according to court documents.

Martinez was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under $51,000 secured bond for the new charges.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Smith stated.

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By Chris Berendt

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Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.