June 12, 2012 5:34PM
GARY
Shooter found in Hobart apartment
Police arrested a suspect in a Sunday morning shooting two hours later at his Hobart apartment.
Mark A. Thomas Jr., 20, a resident of Hidden Lake apartments on North Lake Park Avenue, is charged with aggravated battery and battery.
The victim, Dustin Stevenson, 24, told Sgt. Larry Robertson he was shot in the chest outside a house in the 5100 block of Adams Street about 5:30 a.m.
He realized his handgun was missing. He called police and made a report, the probable cause affidavit states.
After police left, Thomas and two other men “became angry and began accusing him of being a snitch,” the affidavit states. One of the men approached him with a gun, but it was Thomas who shot him, Stevenson said.
Stevenson was admitted to the hospital and was listed in critical condition in intensive care.
This ‘mistake’ a little more costly
Dwayne Divonte Vales, 21, admitted he went inside a home in the 300 block of South Howard Street in Gary through a side window to steal copper piping. The burglary occurred Jan. 31.
Vales, who had been on the ICU Home Monitoring program, told the judge he’d received permission to go to the library, but instead went to a Gary motel. He was re-arrested and was held in Lake County Jail.
“Nobody’s perfect. Everybody makes mistakes,” Vales said.
The judge, however, wasn’t convinced. “This was not a mistake. You went to the motel on purpose,” she said.
Vales had faced six to 20 years on the original burglary charge. He will serve two years in Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Program and two years on probation.
Escapee from work release back to jail
Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced a homeless man from Gary to two years in prison for escape.
Kevin M. Carter Jr., 30, admitted he left Lake County Community Corrections, where he was serving a three-year sentence in a burglary case, on Feb. 3 to attend church services at Reformer’s Unanimous in Crown Point. After arriving at the service, however, Carter and another man ran from the van and the service. They were found about 30 minutes later near 66th Avenue and Madison Street in Merrillville. While Carter and the other man were being booked at the Lake County Jail, authorities discovered they were wearing several layers of clothing.
Carter had been in community corrections less than one month.
Carter must serve the remainder of his three-year sentence after he completes his time for escape.
Teen gets work release for robbery
Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced an 18-year-old Gary woman to four years for robbery.
Rolonda Gordon will serve two years in Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Program, followed by two years on probation, for robbing an individual on Dec. 13 near West Side High School in Gary. She also must perform 360 hours of community service while she is serving her sentence and obtain her GED.
Gordon admitted she approached four men and asked them to help her fight Antonio Johnson, whom she knew had money with him. The men pulled Johnson’s jacket over his head, and Gordon and the group attacked him, causing him to have scrapes, bruises and swelling on his right eye. Gordon then stole $300 from Johnson.
Gordon had faced six to 20 years on the original charge.
CALUMET TOWNSHIP
Shot pit bull dies from injuries
A dog found shot and beaten Sunday died Tuesday from those injuries, Lake County police spokeswoman Patti Van Til said.
Lake County police animal control officers when to the 1800 block of W. 45th Avenue and found a black male American pit bull.
“It appears as if the dog has possibly been dumped in that area,” Van Til said.
Police said the dog had been seen earlier in the 4400 block of McKinley Street.
Detective Michelle Dvorscak is investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call her at 755-3346 or the anonymous crime hot line at 1-800-750-2746.
