Keith A. Skidmore

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GALLIPOLIS — A Bidwell man accused in a string of break-ins earlier this year was recently arraigned in the Court of Common Pleas of Gallia County.

Keith A. Skidmore, 20, 381 Buck Ridge Road, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of burglary, nine counts of theft and one count of breaking and entering during a July 16 hearing before Common Please Judge D. Dean Evans.

Skidmore was arrested on a warrant on indictment by the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office on July 13 after a warrant was issued for his arrest on June 27.

According to the indictment, returned by a grand jury and filed with the Gallia County Clerk of Courts on June 27, Skidmore allegedly broke into seven different residences this April, as well as one outbuilding.

The indictment states that Skidmore allegedly burglarized a Gallia County residence on April 17 of this year and stole a 20 gauge New England Pardner shotgun, a .22 caliber Winchester Model 67A rifle, a Stevens .22 caliber auto rifle, as well as Percocets, a schedule II controlled substance, from the residence.

The indictment further alleges that the defendant entered a residence on Williams Hollow Road on April 13-15 and stole a 12 gauge Remington pump shotgun, a 16 gauge bolt action shotgun, a 410 gauge single shot shotgun and a .22 caliber rifle with scope.

A residence located on Cargo Road was also burglarized on April 5 and miscellaneous jewelry was taken from that residence, according to the charges.

Additionally, the indictment states that a residence on Bulaville Pike was broken into between November 7 and November 26, 2009, and was allegedly burglarized again by the defendant on April 19-21 of this year.

The indictment also specifies a burglary on Yellow Town Road on April 4, as well as a string of break-ins at residences located on Ohio 160 and Kerr Road and a barn located on Cora Mill Road.

During his arraignment last week, Skidmore’s bond was set at $50,000, 10 percent, with an additional bond of $1,500, 10 percent, secured.

Skidmore was further ordered to have no contact with any of the victims in this case. A jury trial has been scheduled for October 1 in the common pleas courtroom.

A negotiated plea in this case may be filed by September 21.

The defendant is being represented by appointed counsel Charles Knight of Pomeroy.

Skidmore is being held in the Gallia County Jail.