Russellville man arrested in connection to burglary

Monday, September 20, 2010
Washburn

RUSSELLVILLE -- Police have arrested a suspect in connection with three Russellville burglaries.

Robert L. Washburn, 30, is facing three counts of Class C felony burglary and four counts of Class D felony theft. His Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley set Washburn's bond at $25,000 cash only. Washburn's public defender, Joel Wieneke, has requested a bond reduction for his client. A hearing on the request is set for Sept. 30. A pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for Oct. 28.

All three incidents are alleged to have happened on Sept. 1. Court records said "numerous tools, sporting goods and other items" were reported missing from the garages, outbuildings and cars of the three alleged victims.

One of the victims reported his garage was broken into a second time on Sept. 2.

An affidavit of probable cause said several residents who live in the areas where the thefts took place reported seeing "two persons, dressed in black or dark-colored, ninja-type, hooded clothing acting suspicious in and about the Russellville area between 3 and 4 a.m." on the day the burglaries are suspected to have occurred.

"The subjects were reportedly traveling very slowly on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) with the lights blacked out," the affidavit said. "The subjects were further reported to have parked the ATV in secluded locations and then approach vehicles on foot and examine the contents of the vehicles with the aid of a flashlight."

On Sept. 4, a witness tipped off police that several items were being kept on the porch of the home where Washburn lived, and that the items were under a tarp. The witness said one of the items was a large leaf blower -- which was one of the stolen items.

It was discovered shortly thereafter that Washburn had pawned the leaf blower at a shop in Crawfordsville, court records said. It was later discovered that Washburn had also pawned a stolen Sawzall.

Police obtained a search warrant for Washburn's home, and several other items consistent with descriptions of items stolen from the victim were discovered.

Washburn has pled not guilty to all charges.

Because his crimes were not violent in nature, the maximum prison sentence Washburn could be given is 10 years.

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  • LET'S MAKE SURE HE GETS ALL 10 YEARS, AND IT SHOULD BE 10 YEARS FOR EACH ITEM STOLEN.....

    THIEF, GO GET A REAL JOB LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD , OR MAYBE WE SHOULD DEAL WITH YOU LIKE OTHER COUNTIES WOULD...

    CUT THERE HANDS OFF.....

    -- Posted by takeastand on Tue, Sep 21, 2010, at 7:54 AM
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