Two Oxford men charged in Lafayette County burglary investigation

Two Oxford men were arrested and charged with burglary offenses after the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office received a report of possible stolen property and issued a BOLO to surrounding agencies, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol located and stopped the vehicle. Deputies investigated the stop, and Matthew Waits, 45, and John Lovelace, 65, were taken into custody for possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Deputies continued investigating the reported stolen property before charging both men with burglary of a dwelling and commercial burglary on Oct. 3, 2026.

Waits and Lovelace were taken to the Lafayette County Detention Center. Both appeared before a Lafayette County Justice Court judge on Oct. 5, 2026, and each was issued a $50,000 bond. Waits is also being held for the Mississippi Department of Corrections for an alleged probation violation.

The Sheriff’s Office credited the Mississippi Highway Patrol with assisting in the incident. The suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Lafayette County Sheriff's Office.