Two Proctorville men were scheduled to appear in Lawrence County Municipal Court today for arraignment in connection with a string of car break-ins and criminal damaging that has occurred during March and April in the Rome Township area.

Ryan Hannon, 22, and Robert Belle, 20, were arrested Tuesday and remain in the Lawrence County Jail. They are each charged with four counts of criminal damaging and six counts of theft.

"We feel that they are responsible for other thefts and we will continue our investigation," Lawrence County Sheriff Tim Sexton said. "Should additional evidence become available, we will seek criminal charges and serious punishment."

Sexton said the arrests came after an investigation by his deputies into numerous complaints from people living in that area. Car owners complained that their cars had been broken into overnight and stereo equipment, CDs and money was missing.

Sexton commended deputy Julia Jones and detectives Shane Hanshaw and Dick Holland for their work in the case.