Danielsville,Ga. – Vernon Lester and Ellen Brown are sitting in jail and facing similar felony charges. Lester is charged with shoplifting at an Ingles store and multiple thefts at other convenience stores along Highway 29. Lester planned to get cocaine in exchange of the cigarettes.

Brown drove the vehicle and was an accomplice to the crime.

Steve Kimbel, who is the lead investigator on the case, will be filing the warrants for the two inmates today. The magistrate judge will then hold a bond hearing within the next 48 hours. If they make bond, they will be transferred to Athens Clarke County courts.

They are connected to between eight and 10 convince store thefts in Athens.