48 counts charged in Edwardsburg burglaries

Published 12:20 am Saturday, January 8, 2011

Three Edwardsburg men have been charged with a total of 48 counts stemming from a series of burglaries in the Edwardsburg area from Sept. 28 to Dec. 31.

According to Cass County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Frank Machnik, Cody Price, 17; Timothy Baker, 21; and Thomas Blunier, 20, were informally arraigned in Cass County Court last weekend; they were officially arraigned Thursday afternoon.

Baker and Price face charges for crimes allegedly committed from Sept. 28 to Dec. 31: one count conspiracy to commit home invasion in the 2nd degree and eight counts of home invasion in the 2nd degree, all 15-year felonies.

Price is also charged with seven counts larceny in a building, a four-year felony; and one count conspiracy to commit larceny in a building.

Baker is also charged with one count possession of burglary tools, a 10-year felony; one count attempted home invasion in the 1st degree, a five-year felony; seven counts larceny in a building; one count operating a motor vehicle without security (insurance), a misdemeanor; and one count driving with license suspended, a misdemeanor.

Blunier is charged with crimes reportedly committed from Oct. 9 through Dec. 31: one count conspiracy to commit home invasion in the 1st degree, a 20-year felony; one count home invasion in the 1st degree, a 20-year felony; one count conspiracy to commit breaking-and-entering, a 10-year felony; two counts breaking-and-entering, a 10-year felony; one count conspiracy to commit a larceny over $1,000; one count larceny over $1,000; one count larceny in a motor vehicle; two counts larceny in a building; and one count conspiracy to commit larceny in a building.

Machnik said he does not know if the suspects have previous criminal records.

The three men are jailed and had not posted bond as of Thursday. The case will now be handled in Berrien County by prosecuting attorney Tom Evans due to a conflict of interest in Cass County. Machnik said the conflict involves one of the defendants; he would not confirm the nature of that conflict.