On August 5, 2026, Joseph S. Hopson was sentenced to 540 days in the Mercer
County jail. Hopson previously had pled guilty to two counts of Misdemeanor Theft
and one count of Falsification.

Hopson’s convictions stem from an incident that occurred in the evening hours
of May 26, 2025. Hopson called law enforcement from a local business where he
was working, claiming the business had been robbed. Upon arrival, officers
immediately began to question Hopson’s account, which did not match up with
evidence found at the scene. Over $3,500 was stolen from the business. Hopson
claimed that intruders had entered the business while he was closing, taken the
money, and injured him. However, surveillance footage revealed no intruders, and
first responders found no injuries on Hopson consistent with his version of events.

Hopson also was ordered to pay restitution to the business owners.