An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a burglary at a Greenwood gun store where over $80,000 in firearms were stolen.
Ivan Bautista, 20, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges stemming from the December 21, 2023 break-in at US Defense Solutions. According to court documents, Bautista, the only adult there, and two adolescents broke through a window to enter the shop at 2 a.m. They stole a large number of firearms in less than 20 minutes and fled the scene.
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On Monday, Johnson Superior Court 3 sentenced Bautista to two years in prison, followed by two years of probation. The court stated that, despite Bautista’s relatively limited criminal background, the high value of the stolen material and the fact that firearms were taken were important factors in the sentencing decision.
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said the case sends a strong message that similar acts will not be condoned. “Prison time, first time, every time for this kind of criminal behavior,” Mr. Hamner stated. “I hope Mr. Bautista tells his criminal friends to stay out of Johnson County.”
This comes after the Johnson County Prosecutor and Sheriff installed a digital billboard warning drivers on 65 as they approach Johnson County from Marion County. The sentence reads: “Attention criminals: Cross this line, and you’ll do more time.”
The court also stressed the crime’s impact on the business owner, adding that stealing from a business still means taking money away from a person’s family.
