Versailles, In. — A Madison man has been sentenced for his role in a series of burglaries in the Cross Plains area.
Christian Stewart, 23, was sentenced to the maximum, 42 years, by Judge Jeffrey Sharp after being found guilty as charged of conspiracy to commit burglary while armed with a deadly weapon.
Stewart was convicted following a four-day jury trial in December of 2018.
Court documents say Stewart and his younger brother, and his girlfriend committed the crimes during the morning and early afternoon of May 16, 2017. At both scenes, the burglars were extremely destructive and left the buildings completely ransacked.
During the Sentencing Hearing, Ripley County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Tucker argued for the maximum sentence. Tucker urged the Court to take into consideration Stewart’s numerous prior convictions and probation violations including a previous burglary in Jefferson County that he was on parole for while he committed these crimes.
Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel said, “We are very pleased with the outcome of this case and hope that this sentence can help bring some closure to the victims of these terrible crimes. The Defendant’s criminal conduct combined with his extensive criminal history and apprehensible behavior in the jail warranted the maximum sentence.”
