Staff Report

WARSAW — A Fort Wayne man received a five-year prison sentence in Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 Monday, Oct. 4, on charges related to an April incident.

Antonio Amah Lee Brown

Antonio Amah Lee Brown, 25, 8531 Valencia Place, Fort Wayne, pled guilty to two counts of burglary, both level 5 felonies; and resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor.

According to information in the affidavit, on April 7, a Milford Police officer was assisting with a house fire. Occupants of the house left the scene, including Brown, who was seen running from the back of the residence.

While assisting with the fire, the officer was notified of a burglary to a garage where a helmet and a four-wheeler valued at $1,200 were stolen. According to court documents, a witness saw Brown leave the garage and operate the four-wheeler while wearing a helmet.

The witness followed Brown into Milford and found him stopped near the railroad tracks at Catherine Street where Brown was attempting to start the four-wheeler. When the witness said they were going to contact law enforcement about the theft, Brown left the scene. The owner of the four-wheeler arrived at the location and confirmed the vehicle was stolen from their garage.

While officers were searching the area for Brown, it was reported that a second garage was broken into. In that burglary, a vehicle in the garage was entered. A Milford officer spoke with a woman, who said she was notified by a neighbor of someone going through her vehicle in her garage. While officers checked the area, the woman noticed items out of place in her home, as well as blood on the floor.

The woman checked her bathroom and found Brown sitting in her shower. Brown attempted to run from the residence but was apprehended by officers.

Brown was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment due to a foot injury. Hospital staff placed Brown in a treatment room for stitches while an officer stood guard. However, Brown fled the hospital on foot and went to Dubois Drive, entering a drainage culvert under the roadway. The officer saw Brown enter the culvert and took him into custody without further incident.

On April 8, Brown was interviewed by a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer. Brown admitted to entering two garages, as well as stealing a four-wheeler, entering a vehicle without permission and entering a homeowner’s shower.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek said Brown owes $3,957.57 in restitution. 

For the first burglary charge, Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Brown to four years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with one year suspended and ordered to be served on formal probation.

For the second burglary charge, McGrath sentenced Brown to two years at IDOC.

Brown was sentenced to one year in prison for the charge of resisting law enforcement, with that sentence suspended and ordered to be served on probation.

The sentences are to be served consecutively. Brown has 181 days of jail time credit.

In total, Brown received a five-year prison sentence.

McGrath pointed out that Brown has a prior history of criminal behavior.

Brown was ordered to undergo a substance assessment and to complete any recommended treatment.

McGrath said she has no objection to Brown serving the executed portion of his sentences through work release or community corrections if he is employed and paying restitution.