A Cassopolis man’s joyride in a stolen vehicle last month resulted in him receiving a black eye from the vehicle’s owner the night of the crime.

On Friday, the same offense landed him inside a Cass County jail cell.

Cass County judge sentenced Austin Michael Pillow, 19, to 60 days in jail and two years of probation during his sentencing hearing in Cass County court, on one charge of unlawfully driving away an automobile and two counts of breaking inside a vehicle to steal property under $200.

Pillow had pleaded guilty to all three counts during an earlier appearance in court on Feb. 12.

The series of thefts occurred on Feb. 4, on Union Road in Porter Township. The crime spree began when Pillow decided to steal a 1997 Ford Taurus station wagon parked at the Hibshman Screw company, owned by employee Carl Fields.

“After you stole the vehicle, you drove it over to Edwardsburg, where you decided to patrol the parking lot at Brothers Baking and see if you could find some vehicles to break into to steal some things,” Dodge said.

He managed to find two parked vehicles to take from, stealing $26 in cash, two Wal-Mart gift card, a money card and some Hoosier lottery scratch-off tickets. He fled from the parking lot once someone had spotted him in the act.

Perhaps feeling remorseful for the theft of the Taurus, Pillow decided to return the vehicle to the Hibshman company. He was intercepted by Fields and another man on the way, though, who were looking for the vehicle after the employee discovered it missing from the parking lot.

“They pulled in front of you, caused a collision to stop you, and then they yanked you out of the vehicle,” Dodge said. “Then the owner of the vehicle then slugged you.”

According to a victim impact statement given to the court, Fields reported that the punch broke several bones in his hand. While he didn’t hold Pillow responsible for any damages as result of the injury, he did say that the damage to the vehicle would not have happened if he hadn’t chosen to steal it in the first place.

The judge pointed out that Pillow has a relatively clean prior record, with a single misdemeanor for illegal use of alcohol. The man’s attorney, Robert Drake, told the judge that his client has a history of substance abuse, which may help explain his bizarre criminal behavior that day.

Both Pillow and his attorney told the judge that he feels remorse for his actions.

“As he described it, it was the stupidest thing he has ever done,” Drake said. “It was a horrible thought.”

Given his lack of criminal history, the judge decided that a probation sentence was appropriate in the situation, though he tacked on some additional jail time due to the severity of the thefts.

“This is serious business when you decide to break inside someone’s vehicle or decide to steal it,” Dodge said. “As you can tell from Mr. Fields, people take that pretty seriously.”

Pillow was given credit for 45 days already served in jail. He was also ordered to pay $2,561 in restitution.