KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw man is being arrested after his father told police his son stole $95,000 worth of items from him.

Joseph Alexei Deeter

Joseph Deeter, 20, 966 W. CR 400N, Warsaw, is being charged with burglary, a level 4 felony; possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; theft, a level 5 felony; and auto theft, a level 6 felony. 

On Aug. 18, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to a burglary report. The homeowner advised he had been out of town for a week and when he returned he discovered that subjects had burglarized his residence.

The homeowner advised he could find no evidence of forced entry. Subjects used a key to open the safe and removed $45,000 in cash. The subjects also stole three rifles, 15 handguns, one shotgun, jewelry, two watches and a crossbow, all valued at over $50,000.

Since the homeowner could not find any signs of forced entry, he suspected his son, Deeter, may be responsible for the burglary. Deeter does not have permission to be inside his father’s residence.

On Aug. 19, officers received information regarding a stolen vehicle. They received further information indicating that Christopher Hodges was in possession of the vehicle. The officers were able to locate the stolen vehicle and found Hodges and Deeter spray painting it.

Hodges became belligerent with an officer and was arrested for disorderly conduct. While dealing with Hodges, the officer noticed a watch inside the vehicle. Both Hodges and Deeter claimed ownership of the watch and Deeter took possession of it. The officer was able to identify the watch as stolen from the burglary.

Deeter admitted to the officer that sometime between Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, Caleb Jenkins and he went to his father’s residence. The two entered the home through a basement window and stole money from the safe. Deeter advised that during that time period, they entered the home on three different occasions to steal money from the safe. According to Deeter, Jenkins received $500 of the stolen money.

Deeter further advised that during that same time period, Hodges and he entered his father’s residence to steal handguns, rifles, the shotgun, the safe and the watches. Deeter told officers that Hodges traded some of the stolen guns for the stolen car.

The officer spoke with Hodges who admitted to entering the residence and stealing guns and a safe. Hodges advised that he received half of the money that was inside the safe and traded some of the stolen guns for the stolen vehicle.

The officer spoke with Jenkins who also admitted to entering the residence with Deeter. He further advised that Deeter took money from the safe and stole a handgun from a barn on the residence.

Deeter was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Aug. 21, with a $15,250 surety and cash bond. He was previously convicted of dealing cocaine, a level 5 felony, on July 28, 2016.