Kassidy Phipps

WARSAW — A Mentone man will be serving time after a string of burglaries in Kosciusko and Delaware Counties.

Kassidy Glen Phipps, 29, Mentone, was sentenced on two charges of burglary, level 5 felonies, In Kosciusko Circuit Court, Feb. 20.

The case began when Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies initially responded to two separate residential burglaries on Aug. 11, at the 12000 block of W CR 600S, Mentone. Various items were reported stolen that included a compound bow, archery releases, chainsaws, DeWalt tools, as well as a .45 caliber handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun.

On Aug. 14, Kosciusko County detectives were advised by Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies that they had arrested Phipps during a gun show located at their county fairgrounds. Phipps had purportedly stolen and fled with an AR15 assault rifle, but later returned to gun show possessing the stolen firearms from the Kosciusko County burglaries, with the intention to sell the weapons. Delaware County officers were able to apprehend Phipps, but a second, unnamed suspect at this time, fled from officers with the stolen Kimber .45 caliber handgun from Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives interviewed Phipps, who admitted to the burglaries and thefts that had occurred on Aug. 11. Phipps also stated to Kosciusko County Detective Shane Bucher that he was attempting to sell the stolen items to purchase heroin. Delaware County officers did subsequently locate heroin related paraphernalia inside Phipps’ vehicle during the time of his initial arrest.  Phipps gave officers consent to search his vehicle, where more items were located that were reported as stolen from the Aug. 11 burglaries.

Phipps spoke about the incidents, saying, “I’m not proud of my actions. Drugs have caused me a lot of problems…I just ask for a chance to do what’s right.”

Phipps attorney Scott Reust added, “I think Kassidy’s problems are like a lot we see here. A drug problem became a large drug problem. But Mr. Phipps is asking for help.”

Judge Michael Reed accepted Phipps’s plea agreement, finding him guilty on two charges of burglary. Phipps was sentenced to three years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for each charge, six years in all, to be served consecutively. He will receive 162 days good jail time credit.

Judge Reed also was putting in a recommendation that Phipps serve his time in purposeful incarceration to get help for his addiction.

Phipps was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500 to the Mentone victim and $1,157.91 to Farmers Mutual Insurance.