A 19-year-old Union Grove man faces eight criminal charges for his role in a burglary in Franksville.
Todd Kerkman was charged in Racine County Circuit Court last week with three felony counts of burglary of a building or dwelling, a felony count of possession of burglarious tools and four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child.
If convicted of each of the felonies, Kerkman faces a total fine of $85,000 and 41 years in prison. Each of the misdemeanors carries a fine of $10,000 and nine months in county jail.
According to the criminal complaint: A Racine County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to Three Mile Road on Dec. 3, where he met with the victim. The victim stated his steel outbuilding had been burglarized between Nov. 15 and Dec. 2.
The man stated he had last been to the property Nov. 15. When he arrived Dec. 2, he found the glass window to the entry door had been broken, and he noticed that three dirt bikes and tools were missing.
The total value of the stolen items was $12,000. Police learned from the victim that he spoke to a friend who had helped Kerkman get a job, but he had quit and was assisting people with stealing items and selling them.
Police spoke to the victim’s friend, who stated that Kerkman had bragged about stealing three dirt bikes and tools from somewhere in Racine County.
The man also stated that Kerkman had sent him two Snap Chat messages of himself sitting on a 2009 Yamaha inside of a garage near a white Kawasaki dirt bike. The officer had the man call Kerkman while he listened, and he heard the defendant admit to assisting two friends with the burglary.
Police went to Kerkman’s residence, where they took him into custody. He admitted that he and a 16-year-old boy went to the building and took several tools. The following night, Kerkman went with another man; they took three dirt bikes, which he later sold.
Kerkman told police the three of them went to a residence in Franksville where they stole a rifle, a shotgun, a crossbow and three swords, along with other items. Police responded to that residence and spoke to the owner, who confirmed the items had been taken.
The defendant made his initial court appearance Wednesday. He is due back for a preliminary hearing Dec. 13 at 8:30 a.m.