By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Tyler Dean Reith

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man received a four-year sentence after burglarizing a local store and using drugs.

In the first case, Tyler Dean Reith, 24, 201 E. Greenhaus Drive 17, Syracuse, was charged with burglary, a level 5 felony. He was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony, in a second case. Paraphernalia possession and theft charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Reith was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Monday, July 12.

On Jan. 30, a Syracuse Police officer went to a location regarding a person on a roof. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a man who said one of his employees saw a person walking on the roof of a building behind his business.

According to court documents, responding officers found footprints in the snow on top of a vacant building. The footprints appeared to lead to The Revolving Closet in Syracuse. Officers then went to make contact with The Revolving Closet’s owner. Meanwhile, one of the officers saw a man on a rooftop; the man was wearing a hat and carrying a duffel bag with a price tag on it.

The officer recognized the man from prior dealings and identified him as Reith, who admitted to just stealing items from The Revolving Closet. Reith said he went into the business through a window he accessed from the roof. Once inside the building, Reith said he filled four bags with clothing, shoes, jewelry and cash. While walking across the roof to leave with the stolen items, Reith fell when officers spotted him. When he fell, Reith dropped two of the bags and injured himself.

The total value of the merchandise taken was $800.88. Reith also stole $180.48 in cash.

On March 23, a Syracuse Police officer responded to a report of a suspicious person knocking on doors. The officer found the suspicious man and identified him as Reith. When asked if he was knocking on doors, Reith said he was looking for a woman to give her cigarettes.

While searching Reith’s person, the officer found two glass smoking pipes containing methamphetamine residue.

For burglary, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath gave Reith a three-year sentence, with one year executed and two years suspended on probation. He also received a one-year sentence for methamphetamine possession; the sentence in its entirety was suspended on probation. Both cases will be served consecutively. Reith’s cases also can be served either through the Kosciusko County Jail or the Indiana Department of Corrections.

In total, Reith will serve one year behind bars and three years on probation. Reith has a total of 79 days of jail time credit for the cases, with good time credit as calculated. He must also pay $200 in restitution to The Revolving Closet’s owner.

Judge McGrath said she had no objection to Reith serving the sentence through the county’s work release program.