By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Morgan Marie Lockhart

Jessie Brent Haradon

NORTH WEBSTER — Two people are facing charges after allegedly burglarizing a North Webster home and committing several acts of theft.

Morgan Marie Lockhart, 31, 6630 N. Third Trail, North Webster, is charged with burglary, a level 5 felony; three counts of theft, all level 6 felonies; and two counts of theft, a class A misdemeanor.

Jessie Brent Haradon, 41, 2605 E. Center St., Warsaw, is charged with burglary, a level 5 felony; two counts of theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On Sept. 28, 2021, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy was contacted by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department about an abandoned truck; the truck was believed to be involved in a theft case from Kosciusko County.

According to court documents, a witness said he saw a man and woman leave the truck near his house. Upon further investigation, the KCSO deputy learned the truck had recently been spray-painted black and had a stolen license plate. The deputy also found a dirt compactor, which was reported stolen, in the truck’s back bed.

Later that day, the deputy assisted the Noble County Sheriff’s Department with the recovery of a stolen 2012 Buick Enclave, which was found in North Webster. The Enclave’s owner arrived on scene and said the items in the vehicle did not belong to him.

On Sept. 29, 2021, the KCSO deputy and North Webster Police officers apprehended Lockhart, who was found in an abandoned shed. Lockhart said Haradon left the area before officers arrived. During an interview, Lockhart confessed to her involvement in multiple thefts. She admitted to stealing packages from a Syracuse residence on Sept. 26, 2021, with the packages containing clothing valued at $300.

Lockhart also allegedly admitted to parking the truck with a stolen license plate.

The stolen 2012 Buick Enclave was processed on Sept. 30, 2021, by a KCSO detective, who found a cardboard box with a North Webster address on it. Upon going to the North Webster address listed on the box, the detective noticed the residence’s front door had been forced open.

The KCSO detective and deputy met with the residence’s owner on Oct. 1, 2021, to assess damage to the home, which was completely cleared out with multiple items stolen. The homeowner confirmed items found in the stolen Buick Enclave belonged to him. The approximate value of the items stolen, combined with cleaning costs for the house after the burglary, was $5,426.25.

In a follow-up interview on Oct. 4, 2021, Lockhart said Haradon was with her during the thefts. With the North Webster burglary, Lockhart told officers Haradon kicked the front door in but they both entered.

On July 24, 2022, the KCSO deputy received DNA sample results from evidence collected at the North Webster home. Both Lockhart and Haradon’s DNA was found in the home.

Lockhart has a prior conviction for theft from December 2021.

For this case, Lockhart was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 3, 2023. A warrant was issued for Haradon’s arrest on May 18, 2023.