Brothers Sentenced After Conviction In Theft Of Deer Stand
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
Steven Briscoe, 30, Goshen, and Roger Briscoe, 34, Nappanee, were found guilty of the crime by a 6-person jury in a one-day trial March 5.[[In-content Ad]]This morning, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed sentenced Steven Briscoe to 1-1/2 years in prison for theft, a Class D felony. He also was ordered to pay courts costs and a $100 fine. A separate restitution hearing will be scheduled to determine what Stephen Briscoe will have to pay the victim of his crime, Glen Ransbottom.
Roger Briscoe also received a 1-1/2-year prison sentence from Judge Reed. Roger Briscoe also was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs. He also will have to pay restitution to Ransbottom once the amount is determined.
In October 2005, Ransbottom reported the theft of a deer stand from a secluded piece of land behind his home on CR 650N near Etna Green. Since Ransbottom had a trail camera set up near the stand to photograph deer, he decided to have the film developed to see if it showed any clues about the theft.
Once the film was developed, one photo showed Roger and Steven Briscoe each carrying parts of the stolen deer stand.
Ransbottom could not identify the men, but gave the photo to Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Conservation Officer Lyle Enyeart worked with Sam Whitaker, prosecutor's investigator and lieutenant with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, who arranged to have the theft and photos used in a Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week.
Once the photos and information appeared in the newspaper, a tip was received by Crime Stoppers and the Briscoes eventually were identified.
During the trial, Steven Briscoe admitted he and his brother were the men in the photo, but argued that the photo just showed them carrying his deer stand from the nature preserve on the first day of archery season. He said the pair was moving the stand, which he purchased for $50 at a flea market at Wolf Lake, to a place that was supposed to be better for deer hunting.
Steven Briscoe said he did not steal Ransbottom's deer stand and that he and his brother just were taking a shortcut back to their vehicle and did not know they were on Ransbottom's property.
When asked what happened to his deer stand, Steven Briscoe said it was stolen from the orchard he moved it to, but he never reported the theft because he did not know who may have taken it.
Steven Briscoe, 30, Goshen, and Roger Briscoe, 34, Nappanee, were found guilty of the crime by a 6-person jury in a one-day trial March 5.[[In-content Ad]]This morning, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed sentenced Steven Briscoe to 1-1/2 years in prison for theft, a Class D felony. He also was ordered to pay courts costs and a $100 fine. A separate restitution hearing will be scheduled to determine what Stephen Briscoe will have to pay the victim of his crime, Glen Ransbottom.
Roger Briscoe also received a 1-1/2-year prison sentence from Judge Reed. Roger Briscoe also was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs. He also will have to pay restitution to Ransbottom once the amount is determined.
In October 2005, Ransbottom reported the theft of a deer stand from a secluded piece of land behind his home on CR 650N near Etna Green. Since Ransbottom had a trail camera set up near the stand to photograph deer, he decided to have the film developed to see if it showed any clues about the theft.
Once the film was developed, one photo showed Roger and Steven Briscoe each carrying parts of the stolen deer stand.
Ransbottom could not identify the men, but gave the photo to Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Conservation Officer Lyle Enyeart worked with Sam Whitaker, prosecutor's investigator and lieutenant with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, who arranged to have the theft and photos used in a Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week.
Once the photos and information appeared in the newspaper, a tip was received by Crime Stoppers and the Briscoes eventually were identified.
During the trial, Steven Briscoe admitted he and his brother were the men in the photo, but argued that the photo just showed them carrying his deer stand from the nature preserve on the first day of archery season. He said the pair was moving the stand, which he purchased for $50 at a flea market at Wolf Lake, to a place that was supposed to be better for deer hunting.
Steven Briscoe said he did not steal Ransbottom's deer stand and that he and his brother just were taking a shortcut back to their vehicle and did not know they were on Ransbottom's property.
When asked what happened to his deer stand, Steven Briscoe said it was stolen from the orchard he moved it to, but he never reported the theft because he did not know who may have taken it.
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