FORTVILLE — A man once called a friend by the victim has been charged with breaking into the garage of a Fortville man and stealing several items. When police searched the home of the suspect, they also discovered illegal drugs.
Stan Leemon Cravens, 55, Fortville, was arrested during the weekend and charged with a Level 5 felony count of burglary; a Level 6 felony count of possession of methamphetamine; and three other misdemeanor drug crimes.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police were called to the 300 block of Elm Street on Saturday, July 25, for a report of a burglary in a detached garage. The victim told police several items, including tools, two car radios and a tow chain, had been stolen. A sum of cash also was missing.
The victim also told police the person who took the items was a former friend, the affidavit said. The victim showed officers text messages in which Cravens appeared to admit taking things from the victim. In one message, the suspect said he would "make it right" between them.
The victim told officers Cravens did not have permission to be at his residence and had told Cravens on the phone he would be home later, the affidavit said.
After obtaining a search warrant, police searched Cravens’ home in the 400 block of Vera Court, where they found substances that appeared to be marijuana and methamphetamine. They also found paraphernalia and a powdery residue that tested positive for amphetamines. None of the stolen items was there, the affidavit said.
Cravens was not home. Police caught up with him on Sunday, July 26, and took him to the police department, where he told them he went to the victim’s house to get his belongings and had a key to get in, the affidavit said.
He told police he took things that belonged only to him. He said the drugs police found at his residence belonged to a former roommate, the affidavit said.
Cravens was transported to the Hancock County Jail Sunday. He had an initial hearing on Tuesday, July 28, in Hancock County Superior Court 1, where Judge Marie Castetter set a $3,000 cash bond. A pretrial conference was set for Sept. 2.
