Warsaw Man Sentenced For Auto Theft
WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced today, April 20, to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for multiple theft charges including an auto theft that occurred last September.
Michael R. Kneller, 812 E. Clark St., Warsaw, received sentencing for three charges of theft and one charge of auto theft, all level 6 felonies.
Prosecutor Katy Hampton noted that many of Kneller’s charges stemmed from his issues with substance abuse.
When offered a chance to speak, Kneller said his charges originated from a, “Drug and alcohol addiction I could not break from.” Kneller stated his wife had also struggled with substance abuse problems and had been getting treatment. “I would like to join her in sobriety,” said Kneller.
Kneller was sentenced to total of six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections to be served consecutively. Kneller will also serve two years on probation. Judge David Cates noted Kneller should take advantage of the Purposeful Incarceration Program while he is serving his sentence.
Kneller was ordered to receive a substance abuse evaluation from the Bowen Center. He is to pay the amounts of $692.92 and $2,342.07 in restitution for the vehicle the was stolen.
Kneller’s auto theft charges stemmed from an incident that occurred last September. According to court documents, Warsaw Police Detectives along with officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department recovered a vehicle that had been reported stolen on Sept. 9, 2016 from Wilbys on W. Lake Street, in Warsaw, after the owner left the keys in the vehicle while she went into the gas station.
An anonymous tip to Warsaw Police advised that the vehicle and the suspects responsible could be located at the Knights Inn on Goshen Road in Fort Wayne. Police located the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the Knights Inn. The vehicle also had a stolen license plate on it. Officers went to room 113 and located Michael Kneller and Tiffany Anderson, both of Warsaw. Both Kneller and Anderson had multiple outstanding warrants out of Kosciusko County and were taken into custody without incident.