A man who served as an accomplice to an Edwardsburg home invasion will spend the next year in Cass County Jail.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman sentenced Edward Lee Franks, 47, of the 20000 block of Starner Ave., Elkhart, Indiana, to two sentences of 365 days in Cass County Jail for two counts for home invasion in the second degree. Franks was also sentenced to 330 days in Cass County Jail for one count of larceny in a building. His sentences will run concurrently.

Franks was convicted of the crimes by a jury of his peers on Sept. 20.

The charges stem from a Jan. 25 incident in which Franks and his co-defendant Bradley Scott Shraw, 34, of Elkhart, were stopped by police for breaking and entering and taking a large TV from a home on M-62 in Edwardsburg. The home belonged to an acquaintance of Shraw’s. When initially questioned by police, Franks and Schraw claimed the TV was not stolen. However, the victim later confirmed to police that Franks and Schraw did not have permission to take the property and charges were then filed against the two.

Shraw was sentenced to three years’ probation in the Swift and Sure Probation Sanctions program at an Aug. 25 court appearance.

Franks’ attorney James Miller said that Franks’ role in the crime was that of a lookout and getaway driver.

“He was not the person who motivated [the crime] or a leader in the process,” Miller said.

Assistant prosecutor Thomas Hubbert said that though the victim of the crime was not present in court Friday morning, he had written a victim impact statement. In this statement, the victim indicated that the crime had a significant impact on him and his family and that they no longer felt safe in their own home.

Due to the victim impact statement and the nature of the crime, Hubbert recommended that Franks be sentenced within the guidelines for the crime, which call for a period of incarceration lasting between 12 to 24 months for both charges.

Noting Franks’ prior criminal history of two misdemeanors, Herman agreed and sentenced Franks within the low end of the guidelines.

At sentencing, Herman said that the nature of the crime led him to believe that Franks is dealing with substance abuse problems that will need to be addressed during his stay in Cass County Jail.

“I was amazed by testimony at your trial that at your age, 47, you were hanging out with these younger individuals, smoking synthetic marijuana and partying in the house,” Herman said. “You’re 47. When I look at that, I see, as your attorney pointed out, that you have some substance abuse problems.”

Franks received credit for two days already served toward his sentence.