MENTONE — A 20-year-old Mentone man was sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 23 in Marshall County Superior Court I for burglary while armed with a deadly weapon.

The case stems from an incident on April 29, 2016 when Mark D. Shepherd committed burglary while armed with a deadly weapon in Bourbon.

According to am1050, Judge Robert Bowen sentenced Shepherd to 17 ½ years with 2 ½ suspended for an executed sentence of imprisonment of 15 years. Shepherd must serve three-fourths of the 15 year sentence assuming he behaves while in prison.

Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said, “A sentence as lengthy as this confirms our long held position that the invasion of one’s home, particularly while armed, is considered in our country as one of the most severe crimes an individual can commit.  Although we wish it never happened, we are pleased with the result.”  He went on to say, “I congratulate Patrolman Matt Geiger from the Bourbon Police Department in taking the lead as well as the assistance of the Marshall County Police Department and Indiana State Police.”