A Chesterton man is facing up to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) after pleading guilty to the burglary earlier this year of a residence on Park Ave., the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.

Joseph Robert Grundell, 27, with a listed address of 510 Park Ave., has agreed to plead to the charge of burglary, a Class B felony punishable by a term of six to 20 years.

Under the plea-and-argue agreement, incarceration in the DOC would be capped at six years, with no limit on probation.

Also under the agreement, the judge would recommend that Grundell be sentenced to the therapeutic community at Westville Correctional Center during any period of incarceration.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Det. Sgt. Charles Rinker of the Chesterton Police Department, on April 12 a resident in the 500 block of Park Ave. reported the burglary of his home while he was out of town and theft of a television, a coin jar, numerous pieces of jewelry, and blank checks.

On May 1, Rinker stated in his affidavit, he interviewed Grundell, who is a relative of the neighbor to whom the victim had entrusted a house key. Grundell admitted taking the key without permission, entering the victim’s house at least three times, and removing the TV and other items, Rinker stated.

The TV he pawned for $150 and the jewelry he sold to a jeweler in Hammond, Grundell advised.

“Grundell said that he needed money because he was ‘dope sick,’” Rinker stated. “Grundell admitted he is a heroin addict.”

Posted 10/25/2012