Security guard beats Western Union theft charge

Basil Willis

Western Union received a not-so-warm welcome to the north side when its new office on Coney Drive was broken into one week after the relocation. The on-duty security guard was tied up and a safe containing sixty thousand dollars was stolen. It was believed that several persons were involved in the crime, but only one suspect was charged and today he walked free. Basil Willis represented himself during the trial and made a no case submission, because the main witness, Ray Villagran, did not provide evidence on the identity of the culprit. Justice Adolph Lucas upheld his submission and the jury was directed to formally find Willis not guilty of Aggravated Burglary. Villagran is the KBH security guard who was on duty on the night of August twenty-ninth, 2009 when the burglary occurred. He claims that at around twelve-thirty a.m., he was held at gunpoint and his belt was used to tie his hands and feet while an article of clothing was placed over his head. The thieves then made their way into a vault and stole the safe which contained cash and cheques.  Viallagran’s uniform shirt and cap as well as his handheld radio were also stolen before the men escaped. While Willis beat the current charge, he has as many as twenty-eight previous convictions on his rap sheet.