An El Dorado man was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty in two theft-related cases.
Joseph Lee Taylor, 32 of El Dorado, pleaded guilty in Judge Robin Carroll's 13th Circuit, Division 4 court to theft of property and breaking and entering after accepting a plea agreement negotiated by the 13th Circuit Prosecuting Attorney's Office and defense attorney David Cason.
On the theft of property charge, court records state that Taylor was arrested after a local business owner reported a 2009 Mercury Mariner stolen. EPD investigators learned the vehicle was towed after its driver was stopped for a traffic violation and arrested on an unrelated charge.
A warrant was issued for the driver, a woman, who told investigators she received vehicle from Taylor, records state.
Taylor was arrested and told officers that he stole the vehicle, according to court records.
On the breaking and entering charge, court records state that Taylor was charged in late March following a victim's report that "someone had gone into her car... and stolen her purse" while she was inside the Wal-Mart store in El Dorado.
EPD officers were summoned to the store's parking lot "at around the same time" regarding an individual "looking into vehicles."
Investigators viewed video surveillance footage and observed a "tall white male approach [the victim's] vehicle and spend a considerable amount of time near the passenger side door, which was where the purse was located."
According to court records, investigators interviewed Taylor, who was already in custody for unrelated charges, and he said he took the purse from the unlocked vehicle.
Taylor was sentenced to two concurrent five-year terms in an Arkansas Department of Corrections facility. Concurrent sentences are served at the same time.