Burglary suspect denied transfer to treatment program

GREENCASTLE -- A Fillmore man lodged at the Putnam County Jail and awaiting trial on felony burglary charges has been denied a transfer into a drug treatment program.

Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley ruled that Mark A. Anderson, 20, would not be allowed to go to House of Hope in Brazil. Anderson was arrested March 31 and is charged with Class B felony conspiracy to commit burglary and Class D felony conspiracy to commit theft.

Headley set Anderson's final pretrial conference for Dec. 17. Should the case proceed past that point, a jury trial will take place on Jan. 13, 2010.

The charges against Anderson stem from his alleged involvement in a Jan. 21 burglary at a Cloverdale residence.

According to court documents Anderson and another man, Thomas R. Kratt, 23, of Coatesville conspired in the theft of various items, including motorcycle helmets and riding equipment, computers and tools from a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 300 block of W. C.R. 700S, Cloverdale.

A narrative on the case said that Kratt implicated Anderson during an interview after Kratt was arrested. Allegedly Anderson, who was on house arrest and probation for a 2008 burglary conviction at the time of the Cloverdale burglary, paid Kratt in prescription drugs and gave Kratt gas money for stealing the items on Jan. 21.

Court documents said Anderson admitted to police that he and Kratt had discussed committing the burglary and that he told Kratt to bring him the stolen items.

Anderson has pled not guilty to both charges. At his initial hearing, Headley ordered Anderson held without bond. If convicted on both charges, he could receive up to a 23-year prison sentence.

On Aug. 20, Kratt was sentenced to two years with 270 days executed with the remainder suspended and credit for 71 days already served.