Indiana man gets 7+ years in prison

CELINA - A Muncie, Indiana, man arrested on Thanksgiving for grand theft and breaking and entering in connection with the theft of a utility vehicle from a local business was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison.

Lee M. Peterson, 28, pleaded no contest in April to an amended charge of attempted engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a third-degree felony; three counts of grand theft, fourth-degree felonies; four counts of breaking and entering, fifth-degree felonies; and an amended charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony.

Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Ingraham sentenced Peterson to an effective prison term of 92 months. Peterson will serve 17 months in prison for each count of grand theft, 11 months in prison for the theft charge and 30 months in prison for the attempted engaging in corrupt activity charge, all to be served consecutively, and 12 months in prison for each of the breaking and entering charges, to be served concurrently with the grand theft charges. He also was ordered to pay $2,389.08 in restitution.

Peterson was arrested on Thanksgiving day last year along with Stanley L. Justice-Keeton, 37, also of Muncie, after deputies caught them hauling a John Deere Gator stolen from Lefeld Implement in Coldwater on a trailer stolen in Decatur, Indiana. The sheriff's office had received a notice earlier in the day from the Decatur Police Department advising local agencies to be on the lookout for a white truck, which had been involved in the trailer theft from that city. Peterson and Justice-Keeton reportedly were driving a white truck when they were stopped in Mercer County.

According to Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Minor, Peterson had also stolen a camper from Davis Camper Sales in North Star on Sept. 4, 2020. Hours before stealing from Lefeld Implement in Coldwater, he'd reportedly stolen a John Deere Gator from Kenn-Feld Group of Van Wert. The camper has never been recovered, while the Gator stolen from the Kenn-Feld Group was later found with the tires knocked off - the result of a joy ride, Minor asserted.

Peterson reportedly had told officials he'd kept harm to a minimum, having stolen from businesses rather than individuals. Minor said the victims reportedly had suffered an estimated $170,000 in economic harm, as well as the blow they'd taken to their feelings of security.

Scott R. Gordon, Peterson's attorney, said his client had re-evaluated his previous comments regarding stealing from businesses and realized they diminished the harm he had caused, and apologized.

The presentence investigation found that Peterson's expressions of remorse had been "less than genuine," according to Ingraham, and that Peterson has a history of criminal activity.

Peterson has multiple pending cases against him in Indiana for theft, grand theft, arson and sexual conduct involving a minor and other changes, which Minor argued showed a high likelihood of recidivism and a lack of remorse for his actions.

"He wasn't going to stop until he was caught," Minor said, adding that Peterson had stolen from the working man.

Peterson reportedly also had told investigators he served in the military, which the court is required to take into account when sentencing someone. Officials had been unable to verify his claim by Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

Gordon attempted to present evidence to the court that Peterson served in the military. A service dog reportedly had been provided to Peterson to assist with post-traumatic stress disorder, and Gordon asserted his client had been honorably discharged from the Indiana National Guard.

Minor questioned the evidence, and also said that in this case, Peterson's supposed military service should carry little weight, if any.

Peterson received 167 days credit for time already served. He is subject to three years of post-release control after his prison sentence which, if he violates, could result in him being sent back to prison for up to half of his original sentence for each offense.