BEDFORD— Lawrence Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III sentenced a Mitchell man to the Indiana Department of Corrections after he failed to comply with his probation terms and was arrested on new charges while on probation.
Cody Keefe was arrested after a neighbor reported to police they witnessed a male breaking into a home.
Mitchell Police officers arrested Keefe on charges of burglary, residential entry, and resisting arrest.
The caller reported to police they witnessed Cody Keefe entering their neighbor’s home through a window. When officers arrived, they found Keefe inside. Officer Michael Brago was first on the scene and, after a foot pursuit, detained Keefe. Sergeant Rob German was close behind.
Keefe resisted arrest, and an officer had to use his TASER on Keefe.
Police praised the neighbor for protecting the neighborhood and reporting the crime quickly.
On June 3, 2023, Keefe was arrested by Bedford Police officers after stealing $20 worth of clothing items from St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. Police found Keefe hiding inside a fenced area between two dumpsters. A box of clothing stolen from the store was located near the area where Keefe was found.
Keefe told police he believed the items were free for anyone to take. He then admitted he knew he was not supposed to take the items, but he was having a hard time, needed the clothes, and had stolen them. He then admitted this was not the first time he had taken items from the store. He claimed he had only taken a few shirts and pants.
Keefe was detained on a theft charge after Bedford Police officers investigated a Walmart theft report on June 15, 2023. Police learned Keefe had entered the store and walked out without paying for merchandise he had concealed in a duffle bag the night before. On June 16, 2023, Keefe returned to the store, removed tags from merchandise, and concealed the items into two duffle bags he selected from the sales floor. He then left the store carrying the two duffle bags. The total amount stolen by Keefe was $487.46. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
On August 17, 2023, Cody Keefe, 34, pleaded guilty to residential entry as a Level 6 felony as part of a negotiated plea agreement. He was sentenced to 910 days at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with 786 days suspended, and placed on supervised probation.
While on probation, Keefe violated his probation by failing to comply with the terms of his probation, including new charges being filed. On March 1, 2024, Keefe was again arrested on a theft charge.
Keefe pled guilty to a Level 6 felony charge of theft. He was sentenced to two years in the Department of Corrections.
Judge Plummer revoked Keefe’s probation and sentenced Keefe to serve the suspended time in his probation case.
“The Defendant was given the opportunity upon being released from prison and pleading to residential entry to remain in the community with the help of probation,” said Deputy Prosecutor Sarah Cummings. “However, the defendant continued to commit crimes and not take advantage of those opportunities, therefore, it was appropriate for the defendant to return to the Indiana Department of Corrections.”
