Fillingim facing charges in county

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Besides facing possible kidnapping and other charges in Coffee County, Jason Grover Fillingim faces two additional charges by the Opp Police Department .

The 24-year-old is currently in the Coving-ton County Jail, where he was placed after being apprehended for the alleged kidnapping of 11-year old Junior Beck, of Kinston.

According to a report filed with Kinston Police Chief Russell Young, Fillingim left a residence with the boy about 9:30 a.m., Monday, July 14, and the boy was reported missing about 12 hours later. The youth was returned unharmed the next day by two Andalusia residents, shortly after a statewide AMBER Alert was issued.

Fillingim was arrested the next day, July 16, and taken to the Covington County Jail.

"Mr. Fillingim has been charged by the Opp Police Department with Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and with Theft of Property in the Second Degree," said Greg Gambril Chief Assistant District Attorney. "These charges are under investigation for ultimate presentation to the Covington County Grand Jury. I have also been notified that Mr. Fillingim will be facing other charges in other jurisdictions as well, but at this time, I cannot speculate as to what exactly those charges will be."

According to the warrant affidavit filed with the county clerk's office,

Jackie Sue Cauley and Cassie Gail Fillingim reported to the Opp Police Department on July 14, that sometime between 2 and 3:45 p.m., Cauley's vehicle was broken into while parked at the American Apparel factory in Opp.

The affidavit listed the items stolen from Cauley's vehicle to include two purses and their contents, including the cash and credit cards of both women.

The affidavit said in an interview between Investigator Nickey Carnley and a minor on July 15, the minor stated "he was with Jason Grover Fillingim when he (Jason Fillingim) went to the parking lot at American Apparel, busted out the passenger window of the vehicle, and removed the two purses."

The Coffee County District Attorney's office was not available Tuesday to confirm the exact charges that may be or have been filed against Fillingim there.