A man charged in the 2008 armed robbery of a local department store was arrested Friday on burglary charges.
    The 2008 armed robbery case against Michael Thomas Padgett, 31, Allenwood Drive, was "dead-docketed," police said.
    Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Daphne Jarriel said charges of burglary were dropped "due to lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute" the case.
    But Padgett faces new charges after allegedly burglarizing a store where he previously worked, police said.
    Padgett was arrested in Hinesville Friday after warrants were issued for his arrest Jan. 18, said Statesboro Police Capt. Scott Brunson. Padgett, who had been recently terminated from Parker's convenience store on U.S. 80 West, returned to the store after it closed Jan. 18 and took about $570 cash, according to police reports.
    Surveillance video from the store helped identify Padgett as the culprit, and the store owner reported the theft, naming Padgett as a suspect in incident reports.
    Georgia State Patrol troopers apprehended Padgett in a traffic stop Friday in Hinesville and took him to Liberty County Jail because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest, Brunson said.
    That warrant was for contempt of court stemming from a charge of furnishing alcohol to underage persons, he said.
    Padgett was transported to the Bulloch County Jail the next day regarding the burglary charge, and was released on a $10,000 property bond, according to jail records.
    Jarriel said Padgett was on probation when the 2008 armed robbery at Wal-Mart occurred. During a probation revocation hearing, evidence regarding the armed robbery was presented to Bulloch County Superior Court Judge William T. Woodrum, who determined it insufficient for prosecution, she said.
    However, Padgett's probation was revoked, since he was on parole for previous convictions, she said.
    After the armed robbery at Statesboro's Wal-Mart in May 2008, Padgett was arrested at a Bartlett Drive residence, where he was found hiding in a closet.  He was charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, aggravated assault and probation violation.
    Padgett remained in jail until November, serving time for probation revocation, then he was released due to the dead docket status of his case, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections Web site (www.dcor.state.ga.us).
    Padgett has an extensive criminal history. He served time at Dodge State Prison from July 2000 to Feb. 2003 after a Bulloch County conviction of first degree forgery and drug possession with intent to distribute. He also had Chatham County charges of obstruction, first degree forgery and theft by receiving stolen property.
    He also has a history of crime in Kansas.  According to information from the Kansas Department of Corrections, (www.dc.state.ks.us) Padgett served time in prison for a drug charge in 2004 (sale of opiates, opium or narcotic drugs).
    He also served time for several charges of simulated controlled substances, delivered to a child less than 18. During his incarceration in Kansas, he also has a record of disciplinary offenses while in prison that includes disruptive behavior, taking without permission, presence in a restricted area without permission, theft, and battery, according to the Web site.