Austin Paul Davidson

A 17-year-old Syracuse teen, waived to adult court in June on drug charges, has now been charged with new offenses as an adult in Kosciusko Superior Court 1.

Austin P. Davidson, 17, 8181 E. Constitution Drive, Syracuse, has been charged with burglary, a level 4 felony, and theft, a level 5 felony. The charges stem from an Oct. 21, burglary and theft at a residence where a safe containing a large amount of cash as well as documents was stolen. He was arrested at 2:10 p.m. Thursday and booked in the Kosciusko County Jail as an adult.

On June 17, Davidson was waived to adult court on two charges of dealing in a schedule I controlled substance, level 6 felonies; two counts of possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanors; operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance, a class C misdemeanor; possession of paraphernalia, a level 6 felony; dealing marijuana, a class A misdemeanor and possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor.

His new arrest is an automatic waiver to adult court.

Court documents state the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department went to the home of Jeffery Dunithan for a burglary and theft report on Oct. 21. A safe was found missing and screens on windows had been removed. A rock had also been found thrown through another window as well as attempts to pry open several windows.

Once inside the house it is believed the individual went directly to the safe leaving flat screen televisions, a laptop, headphones and other electronic devices untouched. The safe was not in plain view and contained passports, change, wedding photos, jewelry and a large amount of cash. The cash was from Dunithan’s son’s disability checks, converted into $100 bills.

Police found several shoe impressions, potential DNA evidence and fingerprints.

During the investigation it was learned Dunithan’s son, who has a mild mental disability, was being taken advantage of at school. Students were selling him items at high prices, as the juvenile does not understand the concept of money. While only certain individuals knew the location of the safe, including his son, it was learned the son had told several students about the safe’s existence and location. A list of suspects was created and police began talking with the suspects, including Davidson.

Police spoke with Davidson’s mother who confirmed her son had purchased a Segway balance board, but was told he had sold his dirt bike. After she spoke with her son privately, an attorney was requested.

Police obtained a break in the case when after learning of a number of daytime burglaries in North Webster and names of possible juveniles involved, along with a location of where stolen items may have been kept.

Police talked with parents of juveniles suspected in the burglaries and located the owner of the home. Obtaining permission to search the “vacant” home used as a club house, police found the safe, a dirt bike stolen from Flores Auto Sales, a television and PlayStation 4, ammunition, a broken pry bar and partially burned items in the fire place containing Dunithan’s name.

Through the investigation and speaking with several juveniles involved, it was learned Davidson and another juvenile broke into the house, loaded the safe in Davidson’s vehicle and went to the “club house.” A crow bar and hammer were used to break open the safe. Non-cash items were burned or thrown into the fireplace. The cash was placed in Davidson’s vehicle and taken to his residence.

The money was divided up between at least three juveniles. Several of the juveniles took “selfies” of themselves with the cash and how the money was being spent. The photographs were obtained by police from one of the juvenile’s cell phones.

One of the suspects had moved out of state with relatives. Police traveled to that location, obtaining a search warrant for DNA and to obtain fingerprints. The guardians of the individual, who had learned about the stolen safe and money, had searched the luggage of the juvenile in their care and found money bound with rubber bands and wrapped in cellophane. An adult took control of the money and turned over the large amount of cash to police, along with a set of keys.

The juvenile admitted he, along with Davidson broke into Dunithan’s home and stole the safe. He was also able to confirm details of the burglary.

Police were only able to recover less than one-fourth of the money at this time.

Davidson is being held in the county jail on a $15,000 surety and $250 cash bond.