FARMINGTON — A judge Friday set bail at $20,000 cash for an Augusta man charged in a Nov. 11 home invasion in Chesterville.

Stephen Dingus, 31, was arrested Nov. 14 in Augusta on a warrant after a search by several police departments, including the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. He is charged with one count of felony burglary and misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools.

He also faces charges in Lincoln County. He was arrested on a warrant out of Lincoln County charging him with a Nov. 10 burglary in Jefferson, according to a police affidavit. The warrant charged burglary and criminal mischief.

His uncle, James Dingus, 31, also of Augusta, was arrested Nov. 14 in Augusta on a felony count of burglary and misdemeanor count of criminal mischief from the Chesterville home invasion.

James Dingus appeared in court Nov. 15 and had his bail set at $5,000 cash or supervised release under a pretrial contract, according to court documents.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins told the court Friday that Stephen Dingus has a criminal history that includes prior burglaries. He asked for $20,000 cash bail and conditions that include no possession or use of dangerous weapons.

Defense attorney Curtis Rice asked that Stephen Dingus be allowed to have contact with James Dingus. They consider themselves brothers, because they grew up together.

Rice said James Dingus’ father is dying of cancer.

James Dingus already has a condition of no contact with his nephew.

Judge Nancy Carlson denied the contact and set bail at $20,000 cash.

The two are accused of breaking into a home on Vienna Road at 9:16 a.m. while a 17-year-old girl was there.

According to an affidavit, she told police she was in her bedroom, which overlooks the driveway and the road, and heard the family dog bark and saw a maroon Chevrolet Lumina back into the driveway. She told police she saw a man wearing a hat, bulky winter coat, jeans and black leather gloves walk toward the house.

The teenager said the man came to the main entrance door, knocked lightly and almost immediately used his body to force it open. Once inside, the man started down a short hallway leading to her bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. She told Franklin County Detective Kenneth Charles she saw a black-handled object with a silver blade in his hand but was unable to tell it if was a screwdriver or a knife, the affidavit said.

She told police the man saw her, turned around, ran out of the house and got into the car that headed south. A few minutes later, the car went by the house slowly in the opposite direction. She said that when the man was at her door she was certain she heard the car moving in the driveway as though a second person was driving it, the affidavit said.

The girl identified Stephen Dingus from a photo lineup as the man who was in her house, the affidavit said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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