A Dowelltown man who broke into McMinnville Lawn and Garden and was caught red-handed by lawmen has been given six years in prison.
The burglar, Justin Keith W. Marek, 27, entered guilty pleas before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley to charges of burglary, auto burglary and theft. He was ordered to serve six years in the state penitentiary and must pay $550 restitution to the business he burglarized. He is also to keep away from McMinnville Lawn and Garden.
He was arrested after lawmen arrived to investigate a possible burglary at the Highway 55 business. Deputy Steven McMillen saw a truck parked at the front gate and then noticed there had been a hole cut in the 8-foot fence that surrounds the business.
“We found him hiding underneath a white pickup,” McMillen said in his warrant against Marek.
The deputy said the burglar tried to flee after he crawled from underneath the truck, but was caught by Trooper Rodney Whiles. He tried to get loose from the trooper and was subdued by other officers.
Officers found the metal cutters Marek used to cut the fence to gain entry to the business. Marek admitted they belonged to him.
“He admitted cutting the hole in the fence,” McMillen said, noting Marek also admitted he had driven to McMinnville from his home in Dowelltown even though his license is suspended.