Anthony Muniz

WARSAW — A man who was arrested after officers discovered him driving a vehicle that was reported stolen from the Warsaw Library parking lot was sentenced today, Jan. 11, in Kosciusko Superior Court I.

Anthony Jacob Muniz, 23,1009 N. Randolph St., Garrett, was sentenced on charges of auto theft, a level 6 felony, and resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor.

On Jan. 13, 2017 officers with the Warsaw Police Department received a call about a stolen vehicle. The owner advised that she had parked her black Chevrolet Suburban in the Warsaw Public Library parking lot and when she returned her vehicle was missing. Dispatch put out an attempt to locate the vehicle.

Officers observed the vehicle driving on North Lake Street in Warsaw. A Winona Lake police officer activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle and fled from the scene.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a canine unit was used to locate the fleeing subject. Officers identified the subject as Muniz and located a knife on his person. Inside the vehicle, officers found a Kindle Fire.

While waiting for the owner of the vehicle, dispatch received a call about a vehicle being broken into in the same area the Suburban was stolen. The caller advised that a Kindle Fire and knife were stolen. The caller provided the password for the Kindle Fire and identified the knife that was found on Muniz as his own.

Dispatch then received another call reporting stolen items from a different vehicle. The caller advised that his truck was parked in the same parking lot and a Visa gift card was now missing from the vehicle. Officers searched Muniz and located the stolen gift card.

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz stated before court that he felt Muniz “hasn’t gotten the message” after previously facing up to 50 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for dealing meth near family housing, only to then violate his community corrections program and probation that he had been sentenced to serve. Voelz brought to the court’s attention Muniz’s lengthy history with theft and drugs.

Muniz’s attorney, Antony Garza, didn’t dispute the statement, but did insist that Muniz had not received the help he needs at IDOC in that past. Garza insisted that Muniz serve his time in a different program.

With the plea agreement capping executed time, Judge David Cates sentenced Muniz to 2 1/2 years at the IDOC for auto theft, and one year for resisting law enforcement. The sentences will be served concurrently. Six months were suspended and will be served on probation.

Muniz is entitled to 151 days jail time credit.