MONROE - A 23-year-old Monroe man with a history of heroin addiction was sentenced this week in Green County Circuit Court to two years of probation for charges of theft and burglary.
Samuel Mark Krebs pleaded no contest on Wednesday, Feb. 22, to a series of thefts in the Monroe area, including a home burglary and stealing from his father.
Krebs and the mother of his two children, Sara M. Lawrence, were pawning the stolen goods for drug money, according to police reports in the criminal complaint. Lawrence was convicted of theft in Rock County in 2009 and is facing more theft charges in Green County from incidents in 2011.
Krebs is convicted of stealing gold jewelry and 20 silver dollars in October from a residence on Steiner Road; power and hand tools and a golf bag with golf clubs from his father's residence on Franklin Road in the Town of Clarno in March 2011; and $75 from Stop 'n' Go while he was on duty as a clerk at the convenience store in July 2009.
He is in deferred prosecution for a felony charge of stealing swords, collector knives, video games and a television during a burglary in October in the 2200 block of 8th Street.
Greg Key, co-defendent in the burglary, was sentenced in January to six months in jail and four years of probation. As part of their probation agreements, the men have been ordered to have no contact with each other.
Charges against Krebs of bail jumping and receiving stolen property were dismissed.
The addiction to heroin "explains but does not justify" his behavior, Judge Thomas Vale told Krebs during the hearing. "It doesn't excuse the criminal behavior. If you don't make the changes, you'll be back here. That ought to be motivation."
Krebs came to the sentencing with his father.
Defense attorney Taylor Guy said the Krebs family has been "very supportive."
"He was involved in drugs, and it drove him to crime," Guy said. But Krebs is on the upswing, he added: "He is addressing his (alcohol and drug) issues."
- Katjusa Cisar
Samuel Mark Krebs pleaded no contest on Wednesday, Feb. 22, to a series of thefts in the Monroe area, including a home burglary and stealing from his father.
Krebs and the mother of his two children, Sara M. Lawrence, were pawning the stolen goods for drug money, according to police reports in the criminal complaint. Lawrence was convicted of theft in Rock County in 2009 and is facing more theft charges in Green County from incidents in 2011.
Krebs is convicted of stealing gold jewelry and 20 silver dollars in October from a residence on Steiner Road; power and hand tools and a golf bag with golf clubs from his father's residence on Franklin Road in the Town of Clarno in March 2011; and $75 from Stop 'n' Go while he was on duty as a clerk at the convenience store in July 2009.
He is in deferred prosecution for a felony charge of stealing swords, collector knives, video games and a television during a burglary in October in the 2200 block of 8th Street.
Greg Key, co-defendent in the burglary, was sentenced in January to six months in jail and four years of probation. As part of their probation agreements, the men have been ordered to have no contact with each other.
Charges against Krebs of bail jumping and receiving stolen property were dismissed.
The addiction to heroin "explains but does not justify" his behavior, Judge Thomas Vale told Krebs during the hearing. "It doesn't excuse the criminal behavior. If you don't make the changes, you'll be back here. That ought to be motivation."
Krebs came to the sentencing with his father.
Defense attorney Taylor Guy said the Krebs family has been "very supportive."
"He was involved in drugs, and it drove him to crime," Guy said. But Krebs is on the upswing, he added: "He is addressing his (alcohol and drug) issues."
- Katjusa Cisar