by Kevin Lilly
Pharos-Tribune
LOGANSPORT —
A Logansport man has admitted to breaking into a home in 2007 and stealing all the Christmas presents.
On Thursday in Cass Circuit Court, 20-year-old George Javir Santillian pleaded guilty to a charge of class B felony burglary. In exchange for his plea, Santillian is looking at a total of six years in the Indiana Department of Correction and on in-home detention.
Santillian’s arrest stems from an investigation into two burglaries and the robbery of a pizza delivery man.
According to court records, someone broke into a home in the 1200 block of North Street on Nov. 28, 2007. While inside, Santillian says he stole gifts from under the Christmas tree. Police report that the packages included a digital camera and jewelry. Other items stolen included bottles of liquor and money.
As Logansport police investigated a burglary in the 900 block of Race Street, they discovered the stolen digital camera during a search of a suspect’s residence. Information gathered through interviews led to Santillian’s arrest in late 2007.
Santillian spent the next 18 months in the Cass County Jail. On June 5, 2009, he paid a $25,000 surety bond to free himself, but he didn’t make it long before having another encounter with law enforcement.
In January of this year, Santillian reportedly pulled a knife on a 53-year-old Flora man who nearly backed into his vehicle at a local gas station. According to court records, Santillian became angry and began yelling at the man. Police say Santillian then pulled a knife and claimed gang affiliation.
Police arrested Santillian on charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon and criminal gang activity.
Santillian, who is represented by public defender Matthew Barrett, also pleaded guilty to a class C felony charge of intimidation in court on Thursday. For that offense, he faces two years in prison, two years on in-home detention and one year on probation. That sentence would run consecutive to the burglary conviction.
The prosecution, led by chief deputy prosecutor Lisa Swaim, agreed to drop all other charges, including the robbery charge for Santillian’s alleged role in the Dec. 3, 2007, attack of a pizza delivery man in the 1700 block of North Street.
In that case, the victim reportedly walked onto a porch with a pizza and got struck by a board in the arm. He fled with three men chasing him. He stopped, pleading with his attackers not to hurt him. Police say the pizza guy gave the culprits $28.
If the judge accepts the terms of both deals, Santillian will owe the victims $850 in restitution. Judge Burns will make his decision at sentencing Aug. 26.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
