TRAP FOR DRUG THIEF LEAVES AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST FACING BURGLARY CHARGES

SPRING HILL - Area detectives could learn a thing or two from longtime
Spring Hill resident M.F. "Bud" Mitchum.

Mitchum, who has recently suffered a series of health problems, discovered
that someone was breaking into his house and stealing his pain medicine.

And he discovered a pattern to the crime.

Knowing the burglar, who had struck twice before, would be back Thursday,
Mitchum had a man in the house lying in wait.

And, bingo, he caught someone.

"He rang the doorbell three times and then banged on the back door three
times," Mitchum said. "When he figured no one was home, he raised the
window and opened the door.

"But I made a mistake," Mitchum said. "I left the police scanner on, and he
heard the call that there was a home invasion at the Mitchum residence.

"So, when the police pulled up, he was sitting on the front porch and told
them he was just there waiting on me."

But the burglary suspect made a mistake, too.

He didn't know that Mitchum's caretaker's son-in-law, Allen Woods, was
planted in the house, saw the home invasion and called police.

Frank McRight Jr., 39, of 2587 Milton Lane, Spring Hill, is charged with
three counts of aggravated burglary, said Spring Hill Police Capt. Ron Coleman.

"McRight, who is an Episcopal priest, knew Mitchum because he rented a
house from him in Thompson's Station for his church," Coleman said. "And he
admitted to the break-ins to obtain drugs."

But Mitchum is a forgiving fellow. "Other than stealing my medicine, he
hasn't done anything to me," Mitchum said. "He's a nice fellow. He just has
a problem."