Orange County man on parole for theft arrested in another suspected theft

Published 12:18 am Saturday, April 27, 2024

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A 47-year-old Vidor man with a lengthy criminal history was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury this week for breaking into a truck and stealing clothes.

A man told police he parked his truck at Comfort Suites on March 18 while staying at the hotel.

When he returned to his vehicle the next day the front passenger’s side window was broken and items were stolen off the front seat, according to a probable cause affidavit.

He described the items as being approximately $100 worth of miscellaneous clothing

Nothing else of value was taken, and all four doors to the truck were locked, he told police.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel and saw a suspect vehicle, a blue Chevrolet Corvette, pull into the parking lot and park two spots from the victim’s vehicle.

A male got out of the Corvette and reportedly approached the victim’s truck, among other vehicles, looked inside and pulled on several door handles.

He then got into his vehicle and parked next to the truck, got out again and approached the passenger side of the truck. After a moment he is reportedly seen pulling what appeared to be clothing from inside the truck, then gets back into his vehicle and leaves.

An investigator recognized the suspect as Jessie Eric Gentry from past thefts and as a repeat offender.

In addition, the Corvette seen on the video belongs to Gentry, the document read.

Gentry is currently on parole until June 20, 2027 for theft charges.

He was arrested March 26 and remains in the county jail as of Thursday.