Robbinsville – A Marble man was arrested in Robbinsville on March 17, after allegedly stealing catalytic converters from Graham County vehicles and later shoplifting from a local convenience store.
Joseph Brian Pressley, 32, was arrested in conjunction with the theft of four catalytic converters from vehicles owned by the Graham County Department of Social Services and the Graham County Department of Health. A surveillance video showed two men on county property attempting to steal catalytic converters.
Later in the day, a man was caught on surveillance video allegedly shoplifting from the Shell station on the Rodney Orr Bypass. Store employees later called the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, saying that the alleged shoplifter had returned. Arriving on the scene, deputies noted that the Pressley resembled one of the men observed stealing catalytic converters on county property. He was arrested and charged with four felony counts of the of nonferrous metals and a single count of misdemeanor shoplifting.
Officers said that he hid in the station bathroom before he was arrested. He consented to a search of his vehicle, yielding no narcotics. Narcotics were not found on his person either.
He remains in the Graham County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Officers at the scene also stated that Pressley had outstanding warrants for possession of firearm by a convicted felon and theft by shoplifting in Fannin County, Ga. at the time of his arrest after allegedly trying to leave the Blue Ridge, Ga. Ace Hardware store with a rifle valued at $2,564 under his shirt.
The sheriff’s office is still seeking information from the community on the person with Pressley during the alleged catalytic converter thefts. Those with information on the possible identity of the second person are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (828) 479-3352.
The alleged St. Patrick’s Day spree was not Pressley’s first run-in with the law in Graham County. Court documents show that he was indicted on the charges of breaking and entering – and felony larceny – on March 3.
The charges stem from an incident in which he broke into a building in the 710 block of Old Colvard Road and allegedly stole tools, dishes, electronics, furnishings, a sewing machine and a bone-handled knife, among other items.