News

Habitual felon sentenced to 17-22 years in prison

Brian Keith Prince

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 14, 2025

A 43-year-old Hendersonville man was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison after a Henderson County Superior Court jury found him guilty of numerous burglary, larceny and other felonies and also declared him to be a habitual offender, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced.

The jury convicted Brian Keith Prince of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, safecracking and misdemeanor resisting a lawful arrest. Convicted of three distinct prior felonies prior to committing the underlying felony crimes for which he was found guilty, Prince was also declared a habitual offender.

Special Superior Court Judge Hoyt Tessener sentenced Prince to at least eight years four months in prison and up to 11 years and plus a consecutive sentence of the same length for the felony larceny conviction as a habitual offender — adding up to 17 to 22 years. 

According to the investigation and court trial records, Hendersonville police received a 911 call at 5 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2021, that someone was burglarizing the Back On Track Resale Store and Addiction Ministries on Spartanburg Highway.

Back-on-Track Ministries is a non-profit agency that provides addiction recovery programs and family support groups. The director of Back On Track had received an alert from the agency’s security system that someone had broken into their building. Responding with multiple units, police officers saw through a window a man attempting to pry open a safe inside the building. As officers set up a perimeter around the building and developed a plan to locate the intruder, Prince exited the building and took off running. Officers immediately pursued Prince, some on foot and others in their service vehicles. Prince was quickly apprehended and, after a brief struggle, handcuffed and placed under arrest. A search of the suspect turned up cash and other items that were later determined to be the property of Back On Track.

Assistant District Attorney Clifton Neal handled the prosecution and sentencing. Murray thanked the Hendersonville Police Department, particularly the responding officers, for their professional response and thorough investigation of this case.

“For at least the next 17 years, Prince, a prolific criminal offender, will not be violating or harming any member of this community we collectively strive to protect,” Murray said.