Wanted for robbery earlier this year and burglary in 2023, a Clermont man is being held in the Hall County Jail following his Monday afternoon booking.
Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Warrant Service Unit deputies transported John Edward Pridgen, 39, from a neighboring county jail to Hall County to face the local charges, sheriff’s office spokesman Derreck Booth said.
“In the latest incident, Pridgen is charged with robbery, aggravated battery and theft by taking, all felonies,” Booth added. “The early-morning April 15 crime occurred in the 5000 block of Stonebridge Road in Flowery Branch.”
Booth said that according to the initial investigation, Pridgen stole the male victim’s car and then returned to the victim’s residence in the car. “As the victim, 44, approached the car, Pridgen got out and struck him (victim) in his face with a closed fist, resulting in skull fractures. Pridgen then took the man’s credit cards, cash and driver’s license and left in his car.”
In last year’s incident, HCSO investigators charged Pridgen with second-degree burglary, also a felony, for cutting and stealing electrical wiring from a vacant chicken house in August of 2023. The crime happened in the 3000 block of Roy Parks Road.