Three men and an 18-year-old who was a juvenile at the time are facing charges in connection with the three burglaries, each separated by months or weeks, of the Chesterton Wastewater Treatment Plant, Porter Police said.

Luke Bradley, 19, of 401 Franklin St. in Porter, has been charged with three counts of receiving stolen property and is the only one implicated in all three burglaries, police said, which occurred on Nov. 17, 2006; June 1, 2007; and July 4, 2007.

Charged with one delinquency count of burglary in connection with the Nov. 17 job, police said, is the unnamed 18-year-old, who is a resident of Chesterton. That charge will be pursued by in juvenile court. Charged with one count of aiding in a burglary in connection with that job, police said, is John Sniderhan, 19, of LaPorte.

Charged with two counts of burglary in connection to the June 1 and July 4 burglaries, police said, is Bradley Eric Sharpe, 20, of 6176 Federal Ave. in Portage.

In each of the burglaries entry was forced into the wastewater treatment plant, located at 300 League Lane, with resulting damage to doors and glass.

Police said that the break in the case occurred on Aug. 3, when Officer Marty Gonzalez made a traffic stop. Gonzalez and Sgt. Joe Torok subsequently developed information which led to the arrests, police said.

Police said that they have recovered, from Bradley’s residence and from Sharpe’s, some of the items taken in the burglaries, including tools, computers, radios, and an air pack, but none of the cash.

Police said that Sharpe is currently in custody at the Porter County Jail.

Posted 11/7/2007