By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Micheal Anthony Hubbard

WARSAW — A South Bend man was sentenced for his involvement with a string of thefts in Kosciusko County.

Micheal Anthony Hubbard, 23, South Bend, was charged with criminal organization activity and auto theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft and resisting law enforcement, both class A misdemeanors. A corrupt business influence charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Hubbard was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Thursday, April 6.

For criminal organization activity, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Hubbard to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with one year executed and two years suspended on probation. He received one-year DOC sentences for his remaining three charges.

Hubbard’s sentences for criminal organization activity, auto theft, and theft will all run concurrently, or at the same time. The resisting law enforcement sentence will run consecutively to these counts.

In total, Hubbard received a four-year sentence, with two years executed and two years suspended on probation. Hubbard has 219 days of jail time credit in the case.

The county’s prosecutor office has 15 days to file a restitution order against Hubbard, with Hubbard’s counsel having 10 days after the filing to object. If an objection is raised against the proposed amount, a restitution hearing will be held.

At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek said the criminal organization activity was a significant factor in this case.

“This period of time was a time of fear in our community,” said Sobek. “There was real fear as to what would happen if these crimes escalated. Mr. Hubbard is at a crossroads and he needs to decide if … he’s going to be in a gang or be a productive member of society.”

Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine said Hubbard has accepted full responsibility for his actions. He noted Hubbard has significant jail time credit in the case and obtained his GED during his incarceration.

Rovenstine also said alternative sentencing was unavailable to Hubbard due to pending criminal cases he has in St. Joseph County.

“I’m sorry to the city of Warsaw for the crimes I committed,” said Hubbard.

“I hope you discover there are better things in life than being with the wrong crowd and terrorizing a community,” said McGrath. “You need to decide to either choose a better lifestyle or go back to your old life. I say you choose to make better decisions.”

Background On Case

On Aug. 11, 2022, a string of thefts began occurring east of Warsaw. Multiple people from the Hunters Ridge and Indian Village subdivisions reported their vehicles being broken into. Items such as wallets and purses were stolen. Within the same time frame, a gray 2019 Jeep Cherokee was stolen from the Barbee Lakes area.

Hubbard was identified as one of the suspects involved in the thefts. The suspects were affiliated with a street gang in Niles, Mich.

On Aug. 31, 2022, detectives received information about Hubbard walking in an area where a stolen vehicle was located. Officers pursued Hubbard on foot as he jumped into a nearby lake channel to avoid arrest.

“At this time, it is believed this group is responsible for at least six motor vehicle thefts, multiple thefts of firearms from vehicles, as well as a large number of thefts of credit/debit cards leading to multiple fraudulent activities in northern Indiana and southern Michigan,” read a press release from the Warsaw Police Department following the arrests in this case.

Hubbard’s co-defendant, Mario CJ Pratt, 19, South Bend, was sentenced on March 2 to 4 1/2 years, with 1 1/2 years executed. A third individual facing charges in this case, Kashawn S. Hudson, Warsaw, has a jury trial scheduled to take place in late September.

Related Articles

• Pratt To Serve Local Sentence After Involvement With String Of Thefts
• Three Arrested After Multiple Auto Thefts In Kosciusko County