Durand Willis

WARSAW — A man who claims alcohol abuse is behind his theft charges was sentenced Feb. 9 in Superior Court I.

Durand Willis, 24, homeless, Warsaw, was sentenced on theft with an enhancement, a level 6 felony, and a probation violation on a previously sentenced burglary charge. A separate case with a charge of theft with an enhancement, a level 6 felony, was dismissed per the plea agreement.

The new charges stem from an April 2016 incident when officers with the Warsaw City Police were called to Owen’s supermarket for a theft complaint.

That affidavit of probable cause states that several people identified Willis leaving the scene and an officer located him lying on the ground. When the officer took him into custody, Willis stated “I screwed up my probation by stealing and drinking…I always screw up by stealing and drinking.”

An employee stated they observed Willis with two bottles of liquor under his coat. When the employee approached Willis, Willis handed over a bottle of Hennessy Cognac but continued to exit the store with what was later identified as Seagrams Gin.

The affidavit states that Willis willingly took a portable breathalyzer which registered at .349 percent.

Willis’s attorney Joseph Sobek informed the court that Willis’s theft issues stem from his alcohol abuse and a lack of familial support. At the time of the offense, Willis was homeless and living in a friend’s garage.

“I wanted to drink to escape my problems,” said Willis. Willis admitted that it’s not an excuse, but continued to explain that he was in a really hard position where he was unable to secure employment and was homeless with no family.

Sobek ensured that court that if given community corrections, Willis has secured a place to stay and is seeking support from friends.

Judge David Cates sentenced Willis to 1-1/2 years at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department for theft and one year at Kosciusko for his probation violation. Should Willis be accepted, Judge Cates approved him to serve his time on work release or community corrections.

Willis will receive 191 days jail time credit.