By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Cory Michale Cole

MILFORD — A Milford man will serve six months in jail pending his acceptance into work release after he and three juveniles broke into a nursing home.

Cory Michale Cole, 20, 1563 E. CR 1100N, Milford, was charged with burglary, a level 5 felony. Theft and criminal mischief charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Cole was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 2 on Wednesday, May 6.

On May 14, 2019, Milford police responded to a report of a fire alarm being tripped at Lakeland Rehabilitation Center in Milford. According to court documents, a quick check of the building’s exterior showed a window had been forced open.

Officers reported finding two fire extinguishers that had been activated and sprayed on the floor, as well as a medicine cabinet with doors forced open and contents missing. Four individuals were seen fleeing the scene on the day of the burglary and an anonymous tip identified one of the three juveniles, who in turn told police that Cole had been involved. The juvenile told police that he and Cole had used the fire extinguishers and that Cole had taken the syringes from the medicine cabinet, along with an unknown quantity of television remote controls.

Defense Attorney Jack Birch noted Cole’s criminal history but said Cole is not seeking to continue down a path of crime.

“Through the course of this case, it’s like a lightbulb went off,” said Cole. “He’s not the same person he was when I first met him.”

Judge Torrey Bauer sentenced Cole to three years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with six months executed. Two and a half years of the sentence will be served on formal probation. Bauer also said he had no objection to Cole serving the executed portion of his sentence through work release if he is qualified and remains qualified for the program.