Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Pair gets prison time for breaking into businesses
By Margie Wuebker
Two Celina men implicated in a series of break-ins at two Celina-area businesses are headed to prison following appearances in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
Dean W. Jons, 25, 126 Leona St., was sentenced to nine months each on two counts of breaking and entering. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. Judge Jeffrey Ingraham granted credit for 106 days served during pendency of the case.
As part of a negotiated agreement, the state dismissed four other charges.
Tyler J. Hammond, 18, 329 Beaver St., was ordered to serve six months on a single count of breaking and entering with credit for 75 days already served. Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Matt Fox noted there is a "holder" on Hammond from Iowa, where he faces up to five years on unspecified Class D felonies. Extradition likely will occur upon completion of the local sentence.
As part of his negotiated agreement, the state dismissed the remaining charges in the six-count indictment.
Both men were ordered to pay restitution totaling $3,446.50.
The charges against Jons stem from break-ins occurring July 15 at Taco Bell and July 27 at Celina Custom Auto. Hammond's sentence also results from the same Taco Bell incident.
Celina Police went to the restaurant in response to a burglar alarm and found the east customer door shattered. The manager pulled surveillance video, which showed someone entering the establishment shortly before 5 a.m.
Information regarding the later break-in was uncovered during the ensuing investigation, which led to the arrest of the pair.
