Facebook Photo Leads to Arrest of Burglary Suspect Teen Has Multiple Cases Pending

By Ed Pruneau

Missourian Managing Editor

Photos posted on Facebook led to the arrest of a Franklin County teen accused of breaking into an Oak Grove Village home while residents were asleep inside, authorities said.

Levi D. Smith, 19, Sullivan, was arraigned Monday on a charge of first-degree burglary in the Saturday, Dec. 8, burglary.

Associate Circuit Judge Dave Hoven set bond at $75,000 cash-only and passed the case to Dec. 17 for the next appearance, according to online court records.

The warrant alleges that Smith, who is on parole in a previous burglary and stealing case, entered a home in the 400 block of Doris Merello Drive about 3:20 a.m. and was stealing electronics and other items when the victim was awakened by her dogs barking and confronted the suspect.

The victim was able to get a good description of the suspect before he fled out the back door with stolen items, the sheriff’s office reported. The woman then called the sheriff’s office to report the break-in.

Later Saturday, the victim contacted the sheriff’s office and said she had received information that Smith had been seen in the area and that she positively identified him in a Facebook photograph.

Officers then found the suspect at his home in the Virginia Place Apartments in Sullivan. Sullivan police, who were investigating another burglary inside the city limits, also responded to assist.

During a search of the apartment, officers recovered property stolen in the Doris Merello Drive burglary and the other break-in in Sullivan. They also recovered numerous items reported stolen from vehicles in the area.

In addition to the latest burglary case, Smith also has multiple felony charges pending in cases filed in both Franklin and Crawford counties. Those include a number of burglary and stealing charges and one count of deviate sexual assault, according to online records.