Cromwell Man Sentenced For Burglary Charges
KOSCIUSKO — A Cromwell man was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 30, in the Kosciusko Superior 1 Court, on charges he received after a 2017 breaking and entering incident.
Philip Matthew Oest, 30, 9671 E. King Arthur Trail, Cromwell, was found guilty of burglary, a level 4 felony.
Oest’s charges stem from an incident that occurred in August 2017. A male was arrested Aug. 19, 2017, and made arrangements for a female to get his keys and go to his residence to feed his dog. The female reportedly went to the residence and fed the dog, with Oest accompanying her. When they left the residence, the female reported locking both doors to the residence.
Later that evening the female returned to the residence to feed the dog and found that the male’s Chevrolet Avalanche was missing and that a television, DVDs and other items had been stolen from inside the residence. The police were contacted in reference to the stolen items and stolen vehicle.
Police spoke with Oest, who stated he thought he left his cellular phone at the male’s residence and had gone back to the residence but could not find his phone. Oest said he had two other people with him when he went back to the residence. Oest admitted that he arranged the burglary at the incarcerated male’s residence.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz said, “Philip Oest has been a career thief for the past 18 years; however, I’ve had nothing but positive reports about Mr. Oest since the time he’s been at the Serenity House.”
“I wonder if the reason he’s doing so well is because he has had this potential sentence hanging over him,” Voelz mused.
“To the extent that the court trusts Hoss [Smith, house manager at Serenity House] – I know it does and I do, too – I haven’t heard Hoss say better things about any other participant in this program than he has about Mr. Oest,” Voelz stated.
“I would like to stand up here and say that Mr. Oest is a success story,” said Oest’s attorney, Jay Rigdon, “but I can’t do that because he’s not there – yet. A success story is made up of many chapters. There are some chapters he has completed that are good recently but also some chapters early in life that aren’t good.”
“I can’t argue,” Oest conceded. “I’ve been involved with this court since I was 14 years old. The one thing that has changed is my sobriety.”
Oest became visibly choked up while speaking during the sentencing. “As a young man, the only way I can explain it is that I didn’t know any other way. I can’t minimize the consequences of my actions. I made poor decisions as a man who continued to use drugs and alcohol in order to cope.”
“Getting sober brings you to the reality of having to live as an adult,” said Oest. “It took me 30 years to get here, but I’m here today. I’m willing to do the work every single day to make things better and to better my life.”
“I’m grateful to this court for providing me with the opportunity to do something different,” Oest said to Judge David Cates, advising Cates that he has been sober for eight months.
Cates sentenced Oest to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections. Cates stated he would have no objection to Oest serving that time through Community Corrections provided Oest qualifies and remains qualified for the program. Oest will be subject to the rules of Community Corrections, including remaining drug and alcohol-free. Oest was ordered to successfully complete substance abuse treatment. He was ordered to reside at Serenity House until he has successfully completed the program. Cates ordered Oest to pay restitution in the amount of $6,655 to the victim and to have no contact with the victim.
“You’re telling me you’re grateful – show me,” said Cates.