Three Charged in Eagan, Burnsville Burglaries

Three Dakota County men were arrested on Nov. 21 in connection with a string of burglaries that took place in Eagan and Burnsville between Nov. 10-14. 

According to a Dakota County criminal complaint filed by Eagan police on Nov. 23:

John M. Brown, 21, of South St. Paul, James E. Granberry, 21, of Apple Valley and Paul E. McWilliams Jr., 19, of Eagan were arrested for their roles in an 4-day crime spree that included stealing numerous items from local homes and then pawning them at local pawn shops.

While cross-checking suspects in surrounding jurisdictions, Eagan police were told by Burnsville officers that the three men were wanted as suspects in a Nov. 10 burglary.

Burnsville officers confirmed Granberry was videotaped pawning "numerous" X-Box games at the local Games Stop and two guitars at the local Pawn America.

The items corresponded with items reported stolen from area residences on or around Nov. 10. 

Burnsville police also said Granberry was accompanied by two other males, subsequently identified as John Mark Brown and Paul Earnest McWilliams, Jr. 

Eagan police then double-checked Pawn America's automated pawn registry from Nov. 10-14 and found a videotape showing Brown pawning 69 DVDs along with several video games. 

McWilliams and Granberry were also present during these transactions. 

After being arrested on Nov. 21, Granberry admitted to being with McWiliams and Brown as well as pawning the items and selling the games but told Eagan police he did not know they were stolen.

Granberry and McWilliams were charged with two felony counts each of receiving stolen property.  

Meanwhile, Eagan police tried tracking down Brown, who was wanted on a probation violation stemming from a 2009 aggravated robbery conviction. 

When they arrived at his South St. Paul address Brown's girlfriend told officers he was not home.

They later caught Brown trying to exit the apartment through a second-floor window.

Inside his apartment, Eagan police found a semi-automatic pistol, a .44 caliber revolver, ammunition, a bulletproof vest and a 32-inch flat screen television—all of which was traced back to the Nov. 14 Eagan burglary.

Brown was charged with three felony counts of receiving stolen property and a fourth felony count of possessing a handgun while a felon.

If convicted of the crimes against them, McWilliams and Granberry face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Because of his criminal history, Brown is facing up to 30 years in jail and a $60,000 fine.