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Burglary investigation leads to massive weapon bust at convicted felon’s home

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — A convicted felon in Dawson County is back behind bars after police found an arsenal of weapons during a search of his home.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Tom Regan the bust is one of largest of its kind in Dawson County.

The Dawson County sheriff says multiple law enforcement agencies found the weapon during a search of Johnny Prichard’s home.

Inside they found 45 weapons that include assault style rifles, hunting rifles, shotguns, handguns and more.

“Johnny Pritchard is a convicted felon, so he being in possession of them is a crime,” said Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson.

The sheriff told Regan that the investigation of Pritchard grew out of a reported commercial burglary in Hall County, committed with a truck stolen out of Forsyth County. Pritchard has not been charged in those crimes.

Johnson said the cache of weapons is one of largest seizures of its kind in Dawson County.

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“What was he planning to do with all these weapons,” Regan asked Johnson.

“I would hate to speculate,” Johnson said.

Pritchard wasn't home when a SWAT team and officers arrived to search the property last week. He later turned himself in.

“Through discussion with our investigators, we were able to talk him into surrendering,” Johnson said.

While Regan was outside Pritchard’s home Friday, a woman, who only identified herself as the suspect's fiancée, approached him.

She told Regan it was her house, and her husband to be didn't own the weapons.

“Do you want to say anything on Johnny’s behalf?” Regan asked her.

“That he's innocent,” she said.

“And the guns belong to you?” Regan asked the woman.

“'Yes,” replied.

The sheriff said the investigation is ongoing and there could be more arrests.

Beside the guns authorities also seized drugs.

Johnson said he worried those drugs might get into hands of children.