By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

David Allen Huffenberger

WARSAW — A Cromwell man was sentenced to 3 1/2 years behind bars after burglarizing a residence and local business.

David Allen Huffenberger, 49, 9455 E. Sleepy Hollow Parkway, Cromwell, was charged with burglary, a level 5 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and auto theft, a level 6 felony. Three additional criminal charges involving burglary, auto theft and theft were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Huffenberger was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 3 on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

On May 24, 2019, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer went to a residence regarding a burglary report. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a man who noticed a lock box containing keys to the residence was missing.

According to court documents, several items from the man’s residence were missing, including a television, coffee maker and an aluminum row boat. These items were collectively valued at more than $750.

On May 25, 2019, a KCSO officer was dispatched to Sudlow’s Pier Shop in Syracuse. A man at the business said an unknown individual had entered the building by taking out a window and making entry. One vehicle was reported missing from the business lot. The man also said an employee was missing several tools from a toolbox and advised a report had previously been filed regarding another employee, identified as Huffenberger, making threats.

The officer searched the area close to Huffenberger’s residence and found the stolen vehicle.

On May 28, 2019, a KCSO officer was also dispatched to Sudlow’s Pier Shop regarding another stolen vehicle. A man at the business said a vehicle that had been used as a shop truck was stolen from the business. He said he believed Huffenberger, an employee that had recently been fired, was the individual who stole the vehicle.

On June 3, 2019, a KCSO officer was informed that the stolen shop truck was seen at Stuckman Salvage in Syracuse. An employee at Stuckman Salvage said an individual had been driving the truck and brought in scrap three separate times. The employee provided the officer with receipts that had Huffenberger’s name on them. Huffenberger brought in an aluminum rowboat to scrap, along with other items.

During court proceedings, Defense Attorney Jack Birch said Huffenberger had been accepted into the county’s work release program but had not received an acceptance letter.

“My life was a real mess back then,” said Huffenberger. “I’m tired of this life and I’m not getting any younger.”

Huffenberger said he wants to focus on paying restitution, noting that his criminal history is mainly related to drug and alcohol abuse.

For burglary, Kosciusko Superior Court 3 Judge Joe Sutton sentenced Huffenberger to three years executed. In regards to the auto theft charge, he was sentenced to 18 months in the Kosciusko County Jail, with six months executed and one year suspended on probation. Huffenber also received a one-year suspended sentence for theft. All three charges will be served consecutively to each other.

If Huffenberger is accepted into work release, he will serve his 3 1/2 year sentence locally at KCJ; if not, his sentence will be served through the Indiana Department of Correction.

In this case, Huffenberger has 427 days of jail time credit. He must also pay $1,303.70 in restitution to one of the victims in this case.