(UPDATE 11:45 a.m.) Benjamin Levi Lawless, a former Republican candidate for state Legislative District 8 and Nottingham resident, was arrested and charged in the burglary of two North Carolina jewelry stores in November, reported the Inside Charm City blog Sunday.

In the early morning hours Sunday, Nov. 21, two retail jewelry stores, Corner Jewelers and Time Hour Square in Jacksonville, North Carolina were broken into after a suspect smashed through the front glass doors of both businesses with a blunt object. Police stopped Lawless near the scene of the crimes, during the time of the break-ins, but did not arrest him.

The incidents were traced to a break-in of JR Dunn Jewelers in nearby Moorhead City, where several watches were stolen. These watches were later pawned in Jacksonville by Lawless.

In late November, Police obtained a search warrant for Lawless' residence on the 1100 block of Ben Williams Road in Richlands. They found a "large quantity of stolen watches," clothing worn by Lawless and a tire-iron used during the burglaries. Lawless confessed to his involvement in the Jacksonville and Morehead City crimes.

A link to a press release from Jacksonville, NC, which details Lawless' arrest, can be found here.

During the 2010 primary elections, Lawless sought to represent District 8, which includes Perry Hall, Parkville, Carney and Overlea. Running against Dee Hodges, he gained 28 percent of the vote, according to the Baltimore County Board of Elections.

The district is currently represented by state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, the Democratic incumbent.

Check Patch for updates.