While a paroled convicted rapist sat in the Cass County Jail on charges of theft and drug possession, the prosecutor’s office served the man with arrest warrants for carrying a deadly weapon while incarcerated and the June break-in of a Walton residence.
As it stands this week, 46-year-old Brett Lee Sisson of Walton faces two class B felonies that each carry 20-year maximums and two class D felonies, which could result in a total of six additional years in the Indiana Department of Correction.
Sisson and 33-year-old co-defendant Belinda Jane Myers are accused of burglarizing a Walton residence and stealing nine guns and numerous pieces of jewelry. According to court records, Sisson broke in while Myers waited outside in the vehicle.
Through his investigation, Cass County Sheriff Detective Tom Helfin reported Sisson traded the guns for marijuana. The couple pawned the jewelry in Logansport and Lafayette, he stated.
Sisson and Myers each remain in jail where they have been since a probe into checks stolen from a mailbox on South River Road.
A woman believed to be Myers was captured on surveillance attempting to cash one of the checks at a tavern in Logansport. Acting on a tip generated by local news stories, sheriff deputies arrested Myers and Sisson at a campsite on the same road the checks had been stolen from.
In that case, Myers is charged with class C felony forgery and class D felony theft.
Sisson allegedly drove Myers to the businesses to cash the stolen checks and possessed pills not prescribed to him at the time of his arrest. Until Monday, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and aiding, inducing or causing theft, both class D felonies.
The Cass County prosecutor’s office dropped the case, stating in a court document that the dismissal “is in the best interest of the State of Indiana.”
Prosecutor Kevin Enyeart could not be reached for comment.
On Sept. 22, a correctional officer at the jail reported finding a “thin pointed fingernail file” stuffed inside Sisson’s sandal. The file, which had been broken off from a set of toenail clippers, was deemed a “deadly weapon.”
Sisson denied any knowledge of the file. He reportedly said he recently acquired his roommate’s sandals. The prosecution charged Sisson with prisoner possessing dangerous device or material, a class B felony.
The state has filed a habitual offender enhancement against Sisson because of two prior unrelated felony convictions.
Sisson was released from prison in September 2008 after serving 11 years of a 20-year sentence for class B felony rape. The rape occurred in Cass County in 1996.
On June 5, 1989, he committed the offenses of auto theft and receiving stolen property in Carroll County.
The enhancement could add several years onto a sentence, if Sisson is convicted of pending felony counts.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
Local News
Counts piling up on convicted rapist
Brett Sisson charged for Walton burglary, carrying shiv in jail.
- Local News
-
-
Snowless savings: Warm weather lowers expenses
The unseasonably warm temperatures have allowed state and local road crews to perform roadwork usually conducted in the fall, lowered Logansport Municipal Utilities electric usage and saved all departments overtime pay for employees.
-
Logansport sees jump in grad rate
Logansport High School saw its graduation rate jump four percentage points in numbers released this week by the Indiana Department of Education.
-
Officials break ground on $1.1M Eel River Run
Contractors are set to begin work on the mile-long Eel River Run trail in downtown Logansport — the result of more than eight years of planning.
-
Fifth candidate files for county council
A longtime Logansport Municipal Utilities worker and former business owner is the first Democrat to file for county office in the coming primary election.
-
Indy on top of its game: Super Bowl host city earns rave reviews
If praise and adulation could put points on the scoreboard, then Indianapolis had a blowout victory hosting its first Super Bowl.
-
$200K in back taxes owed on Logan mall
The owners of Logansport Mall owe more than $200,000 in back taxes on the building and the land it sits on, Cass County property records show.
-
Logan to pay $21K in benefits payments
The Logansport City Council gave preliminary approval Monday to pay more than $20,000 for seven years of owed retirement payments for a city employee.
-
Two candidates file bids for county council
Two Republicans filed their candidacies for at-large Cass County Council seats Monday.
-
A scientific fellow
Andrew Bever grew up on a sheep farm in Forest, about 40 miles south of Logansport, with a mind that looked at the world more deeply than what’s on the surface.
-
Fed-Mogul says hiring on track
Nearly three months after announcing it would add 94 new jobs, Federal-Mogul in Logansport has filled about one-third of the positions.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Snowless savings: Warm weather lowers expenses
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
