Arkadelphia man charged with felony burglary after claiming dead grandmother left him Hot Springs property

HOT SPRINGS — An Arkadelphia man who told deputies a lakeside property had been deeded to him by his deceased grandmother is now facing felony burglary charges in Garland County Circuit Court.

Conner Ray Nantz, 26, was charged Monday by information with aggravated residential burglary, a Class A felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison, along with residential burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, misdemeanor theft of property and criminal trespass.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Justin Baker, deputies responded July 13 to a residential burglary alarm at 335 Lookout Point and found Nantz standing inside the gated property.

Investigators determined Nantz had called Pop-A-Lock, a commercial locksmith service, to help him get into both the guest house and the main residence, the affidavit states.

Nantz told deputies the property had been deeded to him by his deceased grandmother, Beverly Grigsby, and showed them documents and an image on his cell phone that he said proved his ownership.

Deputies checked ActData Scout, the state’s property records database, which showed the property has been owned by BLC, Inc. since 2006. Records showed the company is owned by Brian Cox and that the property was never owned by Grigsby, according to the affidavit.

While deputies were on scene, a housekeeper arrived and reached Cox by phone. Cox provided photos and video recordings showing Nantz entering and remaining inside the residence without authorization, the affidavit states.

A records check also revealed Nantz had an active failure to appear warrant out of the Hot Springs Police Department. He was arrested and booked into the Garland County Detention Center on a criminal trespass charge and released on a $750 cash bond.

Prosecuting Attorney Michelle C. Lawrence filed the formal charges Monday, elevating the case to circuit court and adding the felony counts. The information alleges Nantz unlawfully entered an occupied residence, caused between $1,000 and $5,000 in property damage and took property valued at less than $1,000.

The criminal mischief charge carries up to six years in prison. Residential burglary is a Class B felony punishable by five to 20 years.

Court records did not list an attorney for Nantz. A circuit court arraignment date had not been set as of Monday.