By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Justin Billy Ottinger

WARSAW — A Cromwell man received a suspended sentence for his involvement in a string of burglaries that occurred in August 2018.

Justin Billy Ottinger, 36, 3520 N. CR 900W, Cromwell, was charged with burglary, a level 4 felony. A theft charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Ottinger was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Three on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

On Aug. 18, 2018, a man notified the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office that an air compressor, photogenic light, ammunition box and two extension cords were stolen from his garage. Two days later, a second man reported that a battery box, Dell memory box, checks and memory cards were stolen from his residence.

Court documents state several days after the second man reported thefts, a third man reported multiple firearms, a digital camera, crossbow, zero turn lawn mower and weed eater were taken from his residence.

Investigating officers received information that the items were at Ottinger’s residence in Noble County. Ottinger told police that Scott Noble, Chandler Hyndman and Jacob Stidham had burglarized a residence.

Noble was sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in this incident on Aug. 12, 2020; he is incarcerated in the Westville Correctional Facility with a projected release date of July 15, 2028. This projection is due to Noble also serving time for a Noble County burglary matter and a second Kosciusko County burglary case.

Hyndman received a six-year suspended sentence in this case on Jan. 12.

Stidham has an admission hearing set for this case on March 10.

During court proceedings, Ottinger told Kosciusko Superior Court Three Judge Chad Miner that he has a full-time job and that his family is his biggest support system. He also said he is in counseling for drug use.

“I think if I serve this in jail, it’s back to square one for me,” said Ottinger. “I don’t want to do that.”

Judge Miner sentenced Ottinger to four years in the Indiana Department of Corrections; however, the sentence was suspended on probation and time served. A total of $11,080 in restitution is also owed by the four defendants in this case. This is a joint and several obligation among the four. Ottinger must pay $50 a week toward his share of restitution.

“This is your opportunity to do better,” said Judge Miner.