BEAUMONT — Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham has a message for burglars — his office will not offer probation as an offer.

To hammer that message home Wortham held a press conference where he announced the indictment of four Port Arthur men and one Groves man on a total of seven burglary charges on Wednesday.

“If you break into someone’s castle, our offer will be pen (penitentiary) time,” Wortham said, adding that people should be able to feel safe in their own homes.

The punishment range for burglary, a second-degree felony, is up to 20 years in prison and if there are prior convictions that time is increased.

“We want jurors to think long and hard. I’m not going to offer probation,” he said.

The indictments include:

• David Lidell Winn, 22, of Port Arthur, was indicted on three counts of burglary.

Winn was originally arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in February and at that time was found to be in possession of stolen items from a burglary in the 6200 block of Wheatley, according to a probable cause affidavit. While being interviewed in jail he allegedly made a statement to investigators regarding two other burglaries.

• Jacory Donyeal Reynolds, 17, Jamon Roshaud Brooks, 17, and Jerquevin Darnell Blackmon, 20, all of Port Arthur, were indicted for burglary of a home in the 3100 block of Woodrow Drive that occurred May 12. According to the affidavit for arrest, the three men had tripped a burglar alarm at a home during entry. Instead of fleeing they were found by a person in a bedroom closet.

Cory Kneeland, with the DA’s office, said two of the three men made a statement about their involvement.

• Patrick Shane Flowers, 34, of Groves, was indicted for burglary for an incident that happened April 18 at a home in the 100 block of Eighth Avenue near Nederland in Jefferson County. Flowers’ alleged crime did not start out as a regular home burglary but led to those charges.

According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, Flowers had been arguing with his girlfriend and had backed his vehicle into her neighbors ditch and was spinning the tires of his truck. The neighbor reportedly told Flowers to stop and wait for his help but Flowers became angry, exited his vehicle and started to chase the homeowner.

The homeowner got inside his home and grabbed his firearm as Flowers beat on the man’s front door. When the banging on the door stopped, the homeowner opened the door and the suspect entered and assaulted him.

The homeowner fired a round into his ceiling and Flowers fled to his truck.

Kneeland said the homeowner recognized the suspect as his neighbor’s boyfriend. He was still trying to get his truck out of the ditch when officers arrived.

Kneeland explained that the crime of burglary occurs if a person enters a home or building with intent to commit a felony, theft or assault.

Port Arthur Police Department’s new interim chief Weldon Dunlap was also on hand for the press conference.

An indictment is not a final conviction of guilt; it is only a ruling by the grant jury that allows the district attorney’s office to proceed with a criminal case.

Mary Meaux: 409-721-2429

Twitter: @MaryMeauxPANews