A Merrillville man has agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge in
connection with the burglary in March of a residence in Porter.
Matthew E. Brooks, 25, is pleading guilty to a charge of theft, punishable
by a term of six months to three years. Brooks had originally been charged
with burglary, a Class C felony punishable by a term of two to eight years.
Under the agreement, the sentence will be argued at a hearing before Porter
Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper on Feb. 12.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by PPD Det. Jason Casbon, at
8:21 p.m. March 13, a man remodeling an unoccupied home on Bote Drive in
Porter Beach reported finding another man later identified as Brooks,
accompanied by a female subject, parked in his driveway.
Brooks subsequently admitted finding a pry bar on the property and using it
to force entry to the home, then removing tools which he valued at
approximately $2,000 and placing them in the trunk of his car, Casbon stated
in his affidavit.
Brooks advised that he “took the tools to get money to buy a ring” for his
girlfriend, Casbon added.
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