Jason Wylie Johnson was sentenced Wednesday to between 71/2 to nearly 10 years as a habitual felon in Rowan County Superior Court.
A jury convicted Johnson of felony breaking and/or entering into a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny. After the jury’s verdict, Johnson admitted his status as a habitual felon.
Judge W. Erwin Spainhour sentenced Johnson.
On July 3, 2011, Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy P.J. Eagle responded to an area near Stokes Ferry Road in reference to a larceny. Eagle noticed Alcohol Law Enforcement Officer J. Dean had detained a suspect, later identified as Johnson.
The owner of a truck had discovered that he was missing a GPS system and he told Dean. Dean had observed Johnson enter the same truck earlier.
Johnson admitted to stealing the GPS and a camera. Both items were located in another vehicle. Johnson was arrested and charged with felony breaking and/or entering a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny.
He was previously convicted of felony attempted breaking and/or entering a building, felony possession of stolen goods and felony larceny of a firearm.
Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said in a news release that if Johnson had not prosecuted as a habitual felon, he could have only received an active sentence of eight to 10 months.
Cook said her office “will continue to target those repeat offenders who commit criminal offenses in Rowan County.”