James Preston “Dickie” Walters Jr., 25, of Huntly, was

James Preston “Dickie” Walters Jr., 25, of Huntly, was indicted Monday by a Circuit Court grand jury on eight charges stemming from a series of break-ins in the Huntly area during November and December.

The charges placed Monday follow Walters’ arrest on Jan. 2 for the alleged burglary and theft of property from the home of Howard Wimer, which occurred on Dec. 12, 1988. Mr. Wimer reported a .44 Magnum pistol and a substantial amount of money was stolen.

The additional charges, which involve four other burglaries of homes in -the Huntly and Flint Hill area, were placed against Walters by direct indictment by the grand jury based on testimony by Sheriffs Department investigator Capt. Ed Streapy. ' Commonwealth’s Attorney Peter Luke has stated in the past that he prefers to place felony charges by direct indictment because the process eliminates one hearing in General District Court, thus sparing witnesses a trip to court and preventing an additional burden of cases in that court.

Under Virginia law, defendants charged with felonies are given a preliminary hearing in General District Court. If, after that hearing, the judge deems there is sufficient evidence to support the charges, they are certified to the Circuit Court for disposition. Direct indictment eliminates that step.

Although testimony given to the grand jury is secret, Sheriff John Henry Woodward had stated during his department’s investigation that the five burglaries were similar. All occurred during the afternoon, doors were either forced open or had been left unlocked, and little was disturbed. In fact, the sheriff said, at least one of the Victims had been home for some time before they realized the house had been entered.

Walters faces a total of five felony charges of breaking and entering, three misdemeanor charges of petty larceny and one felony count of grand larceny. Petty larceny is charged when the alleged theft in