Pleads guilty to burglary

A Checotah man who was arrested on burglary charges shortly after his release from prison is headed back to prison after pleading guilty to the charges.

Jeffrey Ray Sullivan, 38, was charged on Aug. 29, 2023, with second degree burglary, knowingly concealing/holding/ receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction.

On Jan. 17, after Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 17, Associate District Judge Brendon Bridges sentenced him to 20 years on the burglary charge, 20 years on the possession of a firearm charge and four years on the knowingly concealing stolen property charge.

Sheriff ’s Department Detective Dalton Thomas said at the time of Sullivan’s arrest he had only recently been released from prison and was on parole through the Department of Corrections.

Sullivan was arrested on Aug. 21 following an investigation by McIntosh County Investigator Matt Youngblood, who was looking into a burglary of a residence in which guns, electronics, silver coins and personal paperwork were stolen.

“Youngblood learned of a possible suspect due to a witness that saw him near the victim’s home about the time of the incident,” Thomas said.

Thomas, Youngblood, investigators Doug Tallon and Jared West, and Sgt. Chad Breazeale went to a residence about one mile from the victim’s house where they made contact with Sullivan.

“Sullivan was arrested immediately due to having an arrest warrant through another county. The property was searched for the stolen items and as a result all stolen property was recovered,” Thomas said.

Thomas said while recovering the stolen property, investigators noticed there were other personal documents that were not Sullivan’s. Investigators were able to link Sullivan to a second burglary that took place within McIntosh County.