A Fort Wayne area man was sentenced to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a charge of burglary.
Jeffrey Lusch, 58, admitted to Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Robert O. Bowen that broke into and entered a home on Baker Street in Plymouth on June 28, 2013 and was discovered by the homeowner. Lusch had entered the home through a window and the homeowner was in the basement at the time. The homeowner emerged from the basement and found Lusch inside the home. He then fled from the residence with the homeowner in pursuit and on the phone to police. Plymouth police officers were able to respond quickly and apprehended Lusch.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and the defense attorney argued the sentence. Chipman discussed that Lusch had committed other burglaries in 1981 and in 2011 and was a habitual offender. The defense argued that Lusch was mentally unstable at the time of the incident.
Judge Bowen ruled that the maximum sentence be imposed in this case. Lusch was sentenced to 20 years with four years of the sentence be suspended to be served on probation.
