Charges against Bessie Smith Strut theft suspect sent to grand jury

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

photo Torrey Hines

The man accused of burglarizing the Bessie Smith Cultural Center after this year's Bessie Smith Strut festival today waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Torrey Hines, 35, appeared in Judge Christine Sell's General Sessions courtroom and agreed to allow the charges against him to be bound over to a Hamilton County grand jury.

Hines, who worked at the center, is charged with burglary, theft of property and vandalism after admitting to breaking into the center early on the morning of June 10 and taking cash from a drawer. Two weeks after the theft, he told police that he took a total of $42,400. Meanwhile, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center has told authorities that $88,932 is missing.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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