Son Among 3 Accused In Theft Of $95K In Cash, Watches, Guns

August 23, 2018 at 5:17 p.m.
Son Among 3 Accused In Theft Of $95K In Cash, Watches, Guns
Son Among 3 Accused In Theft Of $95K In Cash, Watches, Guns


Three local men are facing burglary and theft charges after robbing the home of one of the men’s father of guns, cash and jewelry totaling over $95,000.

Joseph Alexei Deeter, 20, of 966 W. CR 400N, Warsaw, was arrested and booked into Kosciusko County Jail at 4:37 p.m. Tuesday for burglary of a dwelling and theft of more than $50,000. His preliminary bond was set at $15,250.

Court documents filed Wednesday list the four charges against him as burglary, a level 4 felony; possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; theft, a level 5 felony; and auto theft, a level 6 felony.

Christopher Kesler Hodges, 19, of 5935 W. Osprey Drive, Mentone, faces charges of burglary, a level 4 felony; theft, a level 5 felony; and auto theft, a level 6 felony. His bond was set at $15,000 surety and $250 cash.

An arrest warrant was ordered for Caleb James Jenkins, 21, of 2610 Harmony Court, Winona Lake, with bond set at $15,000 surety and $250 cash. He faces charges of burglary, a level 4 felony; and theft, a level 6 felony.

On Saturday, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer Kevin Gelbaugh responded to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 900 block of West CR 400N, Warsaw. Gelbaugh spoke with the homeowner who said he had been out of town for a week and found his home had been burglarized.

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KCSD Det. Shane Bucher spoke with the homeowner who said he could find no forced entry into his home. He said the burglars used a key to open the safe and removed $45,000 in money. Also taken were  three rifles, 15 handguns, a shotgun, jewelry, two watches and a crossbow with a combined value of more than $50,000.

The homeowner said since there was no forced entry in the residence, he suspected his son, Joseph Deeter, may be responsible for the burglary. He said his son does not have permission to be inside the home.

A theft of a vehicle eventually led to the discovery of one of the watches and the arrests.

On Sunday, Warsaw Police officer Christopher Brown spoke with Shane Hallstrom who said he was incarcerated in the Kosciusko County Jail and he had his girlfriend, Cassandra Szymanski, pick up his 2001 Pontiac while he was in jail. He said he is now at work release and can now use the vehicle, but Szymanski won’t return his calls or the vehicle and he wanted to report the Pontiac stolen.

The KCSD was provided information that Hodges was in possession of Hallstrom’s stolen vehicle and was painting it with spray cans. KCSD officer Michael Speigle found Hodges and Deeter who were spray painting the Pontiac.

Court documents indicate Hodges became belligerent with Speigle and was arrested for disorderly conduct. While dealing with Hodges and Deeter, Speigle saw a watch inside the vehicle. Hodges and Deeter both said the watch was theirs, and then Deeter took possession of it.

Speigle was able to determine the watch was stolen from Deeter’s father’s home during the burglary.

Bucher spoke with Deeter who admitted that sometime between Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, he and Jenkins went to Deeter’s father’s home, entered it through a basement window and stole money from the safe. During that time period, he and Jenkins entered the residence on three different occasions and stole money from the safe. Deeter said Jenkins received $500 of the stolen money.

Deeter said during the same time period, he and Hodges entered his father’s home and stole the guns, safe and watches. He said Hodges traded some stolen guns for the stolen car that he and Hodges was spray painting.

Bucher spoke with Hodges who admitted he and Deeter went to Deeter’s father’s home and stole the guns and safe. He said they went back and opened the safe and Hodges got half of the money and watches that were inside.

Hodges admitted that he and Deeter traded some stolen guns and cash to Szymanski for the Pontiac.

Jenkins told Bucher he and Deeter opened the safe in the home and took money from it. They went into Deeter’s father’s barn and stole a handgun.

On July 28, 2016, Deeter was convicted of dealing cocaine in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.



Three local men are facing burglary and theft charges after robbing the home of one of the men’s father of guns, cash and jewelry totaling over $95,000.

Joseph Alexei Deeter, 20, of 966 W. CR 400N, Warsaw, was arrested and booked into Kosciusko County Jail at 4:37 p.m. Tuesday for burglary of a dwelling and theft of more than $50,000. His preliminary bond was set at $15,250.

Court documents filed Wednesday list the four charges against him as burglary, a level 4 felony; possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; theft, a level 5 felony; and auto theft, a level 6 felony.

Christopher Kesler Hodges, 19, of 5935 W. Osprey Drive, Mentone, faces charges of burglary, a level 4 felony; theft, a level 5 felony; and auto theft, a level 6 felony. His bond was set at $15,000 surety and $250 cash.

An arrest warrant was ordered for Caleb James Jenkins, 21, of 2610 Harmony Court, Winona Lake, with bond set at $15,000 surety and $250 cash. He faces charges of burglary, a level 4 felony; and theft, a level 6 felony.

On Saturday, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer Kevin Gelbaugh responded to a report of a burglary at a residence in the 900 block of West CR 400N, Warsaw. Gelbaugh spoke with the homeowner who said he had been out of town for a week and found his home had been burglarized.

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KCSD Det. Shane Bucher spoke with the homeowner who said he could find no forced entry into his home. He said the burglars used a key to open the safe and removed $45,000 in money. Also taken were  three rifles, 15 handguns, a shotgun, jewelry, two watches and a crossbow with a combined value of more than $50,000.

The homeowner said since there was no forced entry in the residence, he suspected his son, Joseph Deeter, may be responsible for the burglary. He said his son does not have permission to be inside the home.

A theft of a vehicle eventually led to the discovery of one of the watches and the arrests.

On Sunday, Warsaw Police officer Christopher Brown spoke with Shane Hallstrom who said he was incarcerated in the Kosciusko County Jail and he had his girlfriend, Cassandra Szymanski, pick up his 2001 Pontiac while he was in jail. He said he is now at work release and can now use the vehicle, but Szymanski won’t return his calls or the vehicle and he wanted to report the Pontiac stolen.

The KCSD was provided information that Hodges was in possession of Hallstrom’s stolen vehicle and was painting it with spray cans. KCSD officer Michael Speigle found Hodges and Deeter who were spray painting the Pontiac.

Court documents indicate Hodges became belligerent with Speigle and was arrested for disorderly conduct. While dealing with Hodges and Deeter, Speigle saw a watch inside the vehicle. Hodges and Deeter both said the watch was theirs, and then Deeter took possession of it.

Speigle was able to determine the watch was stolen from Deeter’s father’s home during the burglary.

Bucher spoke with Deeter who admitted that sometime between Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, he and Jenkins went to Deeter’s father’s home, entered it through a basement window and stole money from the safe. During that time period, he and Jenkins entered the residence on three different occasions and stole money from the safe. Deeter said Jenkins received $500 of the stolen money.

Deeter said during the same time period, he and Hodges entered his father’s home and stole the guns, safe and watches. He said Hodges traded some stolen guns for the stolen car that he and Hodges was spray painting.

Bucher spoke with Hodges who admitted he and Deeter went to Deeter’s father’s home and stole the guns and safe. He said they went back and opened the safe and Hodges got half of the money and watches that were inside.

Hodges admitted that he and Deeter traded some stolen guns and cash to Szymanski for the Pontiac.

Jenkins told Bucher he and Deeter opened the safe in the home and took money from it. They went into Deeter’s father’s barn and stole a handgun.

On July 28, 2016, Deeter was convicted of dealing cocaine in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.



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