County Police Solve Recent Thefts
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department has solved several crimes committed by juveniles over the past few weeks.
One of the first cases was the burglary and theft of almost $400 from Detailing Unlimited, Warsaw. Joshua Bays, of Warsaw, was apprehended and is detained at the St. Joe Juvenile Center. The investigation continues involving another juvenile involved in the crime.
A string of thefts in the southwestern portion of Kosciusko County led the sheriff's deputies to six juveniles, three of whom are facing arrest warrants.
More than $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise has been recovered for the owners, and the department has enough fishing equipment in evidence to last the rest of the century.
Jason Davis, Burket; Cody New, Rochester; and Christopher Gerber, Beaver Dam Lake, Claypool, all 15 years old, confessed to the crimes.
At least 10 residences were burgled in the last few weeks of October. Residents of rural Claypool were those especially targeted by the juveniles.
Even Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe was a victim of the thefts when he found a rifle and several golf clubs missing from his garage. The rifle was recovered, but there has been no word on the golf clubs.
Other homeowners reported fishing reels, fishing poles, tackle boxes, reels, a bear target, and fly rods missing from boats, homes and trailers.
Three 15-year-old juveniles from the area were arrested for the thefts. According to the sheriff, all three suspects have confessed to the crimes, explaining that they went under the tarps of boats that were docked to steal equipment.
From these cases alone, the sheriff's department has recovered 17 fishing poles with reels, two tackle boxes, 12 plastic trays filled with lures, knives, four reels and the rifle.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine said these juveniles led deputies to solve 24 vandalism cases in Akron. Most of the incidents involved the juveniles breaking car windows in and around Akron.
In another case, Seth Hamman, 14, was charged Oct. 25 with burglary when he stole a gun and CD player from a home on CR 525S, Claypool.
The shooting of the Nappanee Conservation Club building was solved when the sheriff charged two juveniles, Ryan Hudson and Justin Beachy, both of Nappanee, with criminal mischief and criminal recklessness.
The Burket Elementary School was targeted by three vandals early in October who threw paint on the gym floor and sprayed chemicals throughout the gym. The three said they knew there was stereo equipment in the school, and when they broke in to take it, they also threw the paint. Damage was estimated at $10,000.
Jonathan Mullins, 20, CR 100S, Warsaw; David Mullins, 13, CR 500S, Mentone; and Hamman were charged in the crime. David Mullins and Hamman were charged with burglary and criminal mischief as juveniles, and Jonathan Mullins was charged with theft as an adult.
A juvenile taken into custody for a crime like this is turned over to the probation department. If the juvenile has a previous record, the probation department orders him to be detained.
For first-time offenders, the probation department works with the parents of the juvenile and releases him to his parents' custody. The probation department sets the charges to be filed in juvenile court, which determines guilt and a punishment.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine said that there have been more crimes committed by juveniles this year, but the department has no explanation for the increase. However, he said that the crimes have mainly been vandalism and thefts.
Deputy Bill Kelly, who investigated and solved several of the cases, said homeowners should make sure they lock their house doors and garages. He also said a motion-detector outside light may help deter would-be thieves. [[In-content Ad]]
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department has solved several crimes committed by juveniles over the past few weeks.
One of the first cases was the burglary and theft of almost $400 from Detailing Unlimited, Warsaw. Joshua Bays, of Warsaw, was apprehended and is detained at the St. Joe Juvenile Center. The investigation continues involving another juvenile involved in the crime.
A string of thefts in the southwestern portion of Kosciusko County led the sheriff's deputies to six juveniles, three of whom are facing arrest warrants.
More than $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise has been recovered for the owners, and the department has enough fishing equipment in evidence to last the rest of the century.
Jason Davis, Burket; Cody New, Rochester; and Christopher Gerber, Beaver Dam Lake, Claypool, all 15 years old, confessed to the crimes.
At least 10 residences were burgled in the last few weeks of October. Residents of rural Claypool were those especially targeted by the juveniles.
Even Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe was a victim of the thefts when he found a rifle and several golf clubs missing from his garage. The rifle was recovered, but there has been no word on the golf clubs.
Other homeowners reported fishing reels, fishing poles, tackle boxes, reels, a bear target, and fly rods missing from boats, homes and trailers.
Three 15-year-old juveniles from the area were arrested for the thefts. According to the sheriff, all three suspects have confessed to the crimes, explaining that they went under the tarps of boats that were docked to steal equipment.
From these cases alone, the sheriff's department has recovered 17 fishing poles with reels, two tackle boxes, 12 plastic trays filled with lures, knives, four reels and the rifle.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine said these juveniles led deputies to solve 24 vandalism cases in Akron. Most of the incidents involved the juveniles breaking car windows in and around Akron.
In another case, Seth Hamman, 14, was charged Oct. 25 with burglary when he stole a gun and CD player from a home on CR 525S, Claypool.
The shooting of the Nappanee Conservation Club building was solved when the sheriff charged two juveniles, Ryan Hudson and Justin Beachy, both of Nappanee, with criminal mischief and criminal recklessness.
The Burket Elementary School was targeted by three vandals early in October who threw paint on the gym floor and sprayed chemicals throughout the gym. The three said they knew there was stereo equipment in the school, and when they broke in to take it, they also threw the paint. Damage was estimated at $10,000.
Jonathan Mullins, 20, CR 100S, Warsaw; David Mullins, 13, CR 500S, Mentone; and Hamman were charged in the crime. David Mullins and Hamman were charged with burglary and criminal mischief as juveniles, and Jonathan Mullins was charged with theft as an adult.
A juvenile taken into custody for a crime like this is turned over to the probation department. If the juvenile has a previous record, the probation department orders him to be detained.
For first-time offenders, the probation department works with the parents of the juvenile and releases him to his parents' custody. The probation department sets the charges to be filed in juvenile court, which determines guilt and a punishment.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine said that there have been more crimes committed by juveniles this year, but the department has no explanation for the increase. However, he said that the crimes have mainly been vandalism and thefts.
Deputy Bill Kelly, who investigated and solved several of the cases, said homeowners should make sure they lock their house doors and garages. He also said a motion-detector outside light may help deter would-be thieves. [[In-content Ad]]