MONROE - A Mount Horeb man pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 26 in Green County Circuit Court to six months in jail and four years of probation for a burglary in October on Monroe's northeast side.
Greg Michael Key, 25, is convicted of breaking into a home in the 2200 block of 8th Street on Oct. 9 and stealing electronics and collectibles worth thousands.
A co-defendent, Samuel Krebs, 23, Monroe, has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Kohl said the two planned to sell or pawn the stolen goods for drug money. The situation is not uncommon. Burglaries spurred by drug addiction are on the rise, according to law enforcement officials in Green County, and it correlates with a regional spike in heroin use.
Krebs is "highly addicted to heroin," said Kohl, and while Key has "nowhere near" Krebs' drug problems, he advised a no-contact order between the two men.
"I think (Key) needs to deal with his issues. It's past the point where he needs to grow up," Kohl said. "Hopefully if he stays away from Mr. Krebs, he can have a leg up."
Judge James Beer approved the condition of no contact with Krebs. Other conditions of Key's probation include paying court costs and restitution, obtaining and maintaining employment, not consuming any intoxicants and not entering a bar, liquor store or any other establishment that sells mainly alcohol.
If he revokes a condition of his probation, he faces more than 12 years in prison.
Considering Key's criminal record - which includes convictions of disorderly conduct, marijuana possession and bail jumping - Beer expressed skepticism that Key would stay clean and not revoke his probation.
But Key told the judge he is currently drug-free, though he had a past problem with marijuana and was at "a brief point" doing heroin. He has a son who turns 1 in February and said he wants to stay out of prison for his son's sake.
"I'm going to do my best to succeed on probation," Key said.
- Katjusa Cisar
Greg Michael Key, 25, is convicted of breaking into a home in the 2200 block of 8th Street on Oct. 9 and stealing electronics and collectibles worth thousands.
A co-defendent, Samuel Krebs, 23, Monroe, has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Kohl said the two planned to sell or pawn the stolen goods for drug money. The situation is not uncommon. Burglaries spurred by drug addiction are on the rise, according to law enforcement officials in Green County, and it correlates with a regional spike in heroin use.
Krebs is "highly addicted to heroin," said Kohl, and while Key has "nowhere near" Krebs' drug problems, he advised a no-contact order between the two men.
"I think (Key) needs to deal with his issues. It's past the point where he needs to grow up," Kohl said. "Hopefully if he stays away from Mr. Krebs, he can have a leg up."
Judge James Beer approved the condition of no contact with Krebs. Other conditions of Key's probation include paying court costs and restitution, obtaining and maintaining employment, not consuming any intoxicants and not entering a bar, liquor store or any other establishment that sells mainly alcohol.
If he revokes a condition of his probation, he faces more than 12 years in prison.
Considering Key's criminal record - which includes convictions of disorderly conduct, marijuana possession and bail jumping - Beer expressed skepticism that Key would stay clean and not revoke his probation.
But Key told the judge he is currently drug-free, though he had a past problem with marijuana and was at "a brief point" doing heroin. He has a son who turns 1 in February and said he wants to stay out of prison for his son's sake.
"I'm going to do my best to succeed on probation," Key said.
- Katjusa Cisar