Staff Report

Ethan William Michael Robinette

SILVER LAKE — A Silver Lake man was recently arrested on two cases after allegedly stealing a motorcycle, dirt bike and ATV.

In the first case, Ethan William Michael Robinette, 22, 3531 W. SR 14, Silver Lake, is charged with theft, a level 6 felony. He is also charged with two counts of theft, both level 6 felonies, in a second case.

On May 23, the Claypool town marshal responded to a report of a possible motorcycle theft. A man said an individual came to his home and asked for a ride to Silver Lake. The man told the individual he could not give him a ride; he later saw the person walk into a garage and ride off on a motorcycle.

The marshal then spoke with the homeowner where the motorcycle was taken from. According to court documents, the woman checked her garage and confirmed that her husband’s white Kawasaki motorcycle was missing. She told the marshal she would review footage from the home’s security camera.

Through the surveillance footage, officers were able to identify the person riding off on the stolen motorcycle as Robinette.

On June 23, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy went to a location in Silver Lake regarding a theft report. Upon arrival at the scene, the deputy spoke with a man and woman about a dirt bike and ATV being stolen from their garage while they were away from their residence.

According to court documents, the man said when he arrived home, he noticed the garage’s door and side door were open. The man and woman said they didn’t know who would have stolen their vehicles.

On June 24, the deputy received an email from the woman, who said that Robinette may have stolen the vehicles.

On June 29, a Silver Lake Police officer followed up on the theft report. The woman said she spoke with a friend about the theft. During that conversation, the friend said her child indicated that they saw a man and Robinette riding the stolen dirt bike and ATV at a home in Silver Lake.

On June 30, a Silver Lake Police officer interviewed the owner of the home where Robinette was seen riding the stolen vehicles. The homeowner said she did not see anyone riding a stolen dirt bike or ATV at her residence, but was informed about the incident. She said that Robinette had resided there until June 23. After she was informed about the theft, the homeowner told Robinette he was no longer welcome at her residence.

On July 5, Silver Lake and Claypool Police officers spoke with the man who was riding the stolen vehicles with Robinette. The man said that on the day of the theft, Robinette and two other people showed up to his residence.

Court documents state that Robinette was driving a black ATV. The group left the ATV at the man’s residence and told him they would return shortly. A few minutes later, the group returned, with Robinette driving a dirt bike.

Robinette allegedly told the man he was going to take the vehicles to Athens. The man told officers he did not ask where the vehicles came from because he assumed they were stolen. The man drove the dirt bike and Robinette drove the ATV to a location in Athens.

The man showed the officers where the vehicles were taken via Google Maps. Officers went to that location on July 6 and searched for the stolen vehicles, but were unable to locate them.

At the time of these incidents, Robinette was on formal probation through Fulton County for a misdemeanor theft case.

Robinette was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Aug. 17.