A suspect taken into custody last weekend after allegedly breaking into a sweepstakes business has also been charged for a plethora of other similar break-ins since June 13.

On Saturday, Brian Dijon Morton, 33, of Dudley was apprehended by Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office deputies after he and an unidentified accomplice broke into the Carolina Sweepstakes at 5777 Hwy. 70 West. LCSO deputies were responding to an alarm at the establishment; when they arrived, Morton and his accomplice were observed running from the scene. Morton was taken into custody while the second suspect evaded arrest.

For this incident, Morton was charged with:

·      Felony possession of burglary tools

·      Two counts of felony breaking and entering

·      Felony conspiracy

·      Felony possession of a firearm by a felon

LCSO investigators have been investigating multiple cases of breaking and entering into sweepstakes businesses in Lenoir County since June 13. Morton received 27 additional charges as a result of those investigations:

·      Nine counts of felony breaking and entering

·      Seven counts of felony safecracking

·      Three counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering

·      Eight counts of felony conspiracy

Morton was not issued a bond due to being on pretrial release.