STUART, Va. — Charges have been issued against an Ararat man in connection with a burglary at an elderly woman’s home last week, according to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office.

Joseph Ray “Joey” Walton, 21, of 595 Pedigo Ridge Road, was still at large as of late Monday afternoon, according to Sheriff Dan Smith. “But we’re exploring new leads on him,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old juvenile has been taken into custody in the burglary. That individual’s name has not been released, since Virginia law prohibits the identification of juvenile arrestees. The 14-year-old is awaiting a detention hearing in Patrick County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Walton is facing charges of felonious breaking and entering of an occupied dwelling at nighttime and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a misdemeanor.

He is accused of entering the Ararat residence of an unidentified 89-year-old woman during the early morning hours of Aug. 2 by crawling through a kitchen window. Once inside, the burglar went through drawers and the victim’s purse while she was in her bedroom. No injuries were reported to the woman.

While Patrick investigators identified a “person of interest” soon after the crime, who had a possible link to other Ararat-area burglaries since November 2009 — including one previously at the elderly woman’s home — Walton is charged only in one case.

Smith said he received credible information on Thursday regarding the Aug. 2 burglary. “Investigator (Karen) Weidhaas and Lieutenant (Katherine) Layman aggressively followed up on that information,” Smith said, which led to the charges being placed.

The sheriff said the investigation is continuing, and that anyone with information on Walton’s whereabouts is asked to call Patrick County Crimestoppers at 276-694-5000.

After the elderly woman’s home was burglarized last week, the sheriff said he received reports from concerned homeowners in the Ararat area wishing to protect themselves in light of the recent home invasions. Smith said he advocates residents taking lawful steps to do so, noting that he “strongly supports” the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“Any citizen has the right to protect themselves by whatever means necessary if he or she has a reasonable belief that their life or personal safety is in imminent danger,” Smith stated. He added that if a homeowner is protecting himself or herself from an intruder, “I will support you.”