5/24/11 Burglary suspects plead guilty

  • By Nick Sabo
  • May 24, 2011
  • 259
                        
SUMMARY: Damages to four businesses in spree tops $1,000 Codefendants pleaded Tuesday in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to charges from a string of burglaries and a warrant was issued for a third after he failed to appear. Michael T. Gnagy, 18, 14684 Navarre Road, Wilmot, pleaded guilty to one count of breaking and entering and Russell T. Young, 19, 4610 Township Road 422, Sugarcreek, pleaded to two counts of breaking and entering. A warrant was issued for the third codefendant, Dennis G. Nicholas, 18, last known address 14684 Navarre Road, Wilmot, who was also scheduled to plead Tuesday but did not show up for court. Gnagy and Young face up to 12 months in prison on the most serious of the charges brought against them. The charges stem from four burglaries that occurred over the March 13 - 14 weekend. According to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Oehl, the burglaries were part of a “spree” that also targeted businesses in Tuscarawas and Stark counties. The four businesses in Holmes County claimed a total loss of $1,105. Most of the amount represents damage to windows and doors, Oehl said. “The theft (amounts) were all of the misdemeanor variety,” Oehl said. For example, Oehl noted that entry was gained at one of the businesses by breaking a window, and repairs were much higher than the $20 that was stolen. Gnagy said he was trying to help Nicholas turn his life around, but in the end the opposite happened. Nicholas lived with Gnagy for some time but Gnagy said he has not seen him since the charges were brought. “He was definitly the wrong person to be around,” Gnagy said. “I just ended up getting sucked into what he does.” Gnagy’s attorney Thomas White, said Gnagy plans to graduate high school and enroll in the U.S. Marine Corps. White noted that Gnagy was very cooperative in the investigation and said Gnagy “wants to follow through and accept responsibility for what he’s done”. Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret ordered presentence investigations and scheduled sentencing for Aug. 4.


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