An inmate already doing time for one burglary has pleaded guilty to burglarizing a Leflore County laundry facility.
Larry Lenz, 42, entered his guilty plea Monday, and Circuit Judge Betty Sanders sentenced him to seven years — two to serve and five post-release supervision.
It will run concurrently with another sentence for business burglary from Monroe County. He’s got three months left on that one and then will serve the remaining 21 months on the Leflore County sentence, Assistant District Attorney Timothy Jones said.
Lenz must begin paying $3,325 restitution to Jackie Sims Jr., owner of the Highland Park Washeteria, beginning six months after his release, according to the court order. Lenz broke into the business and damaged coin machines trying to steal money, according to the assistant DA. Jones said it was fueled by a drug problem.
The judge also ordered Lenz to pay more than $750 in court costs and attorney’s fees. She suspended a $500 fine.
Lenz has a colorful arrest record — one that involves talking sock puppets. According to federal court records, a Senatobia police officer, Jason West, responded to a disturbing-the-peace call at Lenz’s mother’s house in July 2007, and “West found Lenz lying on the grass outside wearing socks on his hands. According to West, Lenz was only able to communicate with him using the socks on his hands as puppets.”
Another officer said Lenz admitted using crystal meth, Xanax and off-brand Viagra that night, court documents said. Lenz denies that, and a toxicology report found only marijuana in his system, according to the records.
Upon admission to jail, an officer who knew Lenz from previous arrests noted “he wasn’t the same Larry.” Jail staff observed him falling, trying to climb the walls, scratching and pulling at himself on the floor, talking to himself and running into the walls, according to court records. When he went to sleep, he was naked on the floor of his cell, and feces was smeared all over the room, an officer said.
He was transported to hospitals in Senatobia and then Memphis, where hospital personnel described him as “combative.” A CT scan showed he suffered a spinal fracture, cuts to his face and bruises on his legs and between his buttocks, the records said.
Lenz has a federal lawsuit pending against the Tate County Sheriff’s Department, although an FBI investigation found no violations.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
