He stole a demilitarized submachine gun and two swords from the Jacksonville Museum of Military worth over $63,000.
He later confessed to charges of failure to lead a law abiding life and commit no offense punishable by imprisonment. Failure to pay all fines, fees, and costs, and possession of firearms by certain persons.
Now John Joe Mejia, 49, from Mena, Arkansas has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. In July, Mejia signed a guilty plea for multiple charges. You can view the guilty plea document below.
Arkansas Man Sentenced To 5 Years After Theft
In 2023, Mejia stole a gun and two swords from a local Jacksonville Museum of Military. The items were very expensive.
He later came back to the scene of the crime months later to retrieve one of the stolen items he hid inside the museum. One of the employees noticed and recognized him from the break-in and called the police.
While in the midst of a legal battle, Mejia pled guilty to multiple offenses, as can be seen in the document below:
According to Arkansas court records, Mejia has faced many charges in the past.
In 2019, he was accused of theft of property worth less than $1,000, to which he pled guilty.
That same year he was also charged with breaking an entering, which he also negotiated a guilty plea.
People close to the case are reportedly happy it’s over. They’re hoping that Mejia’s incarceration will prevent him from committing more crimes.
