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Worthington Man Pleads Guilty To Theft

Last updated on Friday, February 24, 2012

(BLOOMFIELD) - The first of three men accused in the theft of a variety of items from a rural Worthington farm has been sentenced. (GC DAILY WORLD)

25-year-old Timothy A. Bell, of Worthington plead guilty Wednesday in Greene Circuit Court to a single count of theft.

He was sentenced by Circuit Judge Erik Allen based on terms of the plea agreement to 1 1/2 years with all but 10 days suspended. He was given credit for three days already served in jail and fined $35 and court costs.

The victim, Joe Decker, had sought more than $4,000 in restitution for his loss, but the claim was not allowed by the court.

Also facing charges in the case are Timothy Bell's father, 47-year-old Douglas A. Bell and 25-year-old Jeremy Baldock both of rural Worthington.

The trio is alleged to have stolen several pieces of property from the Decker's Farm, located at County Road 50E and State Road 67.

Decker told police on Sept. 16 that the residence at the farm is unoccupied, but he keeps livestock and farm equipment at the site. The last time he was at the farm was two days earlier and noticed a portable oxygen/acetylene welder was missing. He then began checking and noticed other items were missing, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

Among the other missing items are: A stainless steel hog feeder, two window air-conditioners, two cast iron bathtubs, an air compressor, several tires and rims and several pieces of steel and iron.

The welding torch was the property of Decker's employer, Graves Plumbing and Heating of Switz City, according to court records.

On Sept. 17, Decker again contacted the Greene County Sheriff's Department to report that he had been at J & M Recycling near Worthington and located his missing stainless steel hog feeder.

J & M Recycling provided a receipt to police, vehicle description and a copy of the seller's Indiana driver's license issued to Douglas A. Bell, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The items were taken to be sold as scrap, O'Malley wrote in the probable cause affidavit.

Douglas Bell told police that his son, Timothy Bell, took the portable oxygen/acetylene torch, according to court records.

Decker's farm was burglarized again about two weeks ago and he alleges he lost about $10,000 worth of equipment and tools. No arrests have been made in that case.

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