Two Marion teens each face four counts of burglary, two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of bail jumping.
Accused of a rash of break-ins that occurred in a single night in Marion are De’Sean A. Mahkimetas, 18, and Taylor P. Pingel, 17.
Shortly after 2 a.m. Monday, July 15, a 74-year-old man living on the 500 block of W. Ramsdell Street in Marion called 911 and reported that an intruder was inside his home. He did not see anyone, but lights were going off and on throughout the house and in the garage.
Marion and Waupaca County officers responded to the area. After making sure the man was safe and nobody was still inside his home, officers and a canine began searching the neighborhood.
Less than two blocks away, Deputy Bill Zeamer noticed that a garage door had been damaged in what appeared to be a forced entry.
Marion Officer Eric Krause found another garage door open and items strewn about.
While police were still investigating the three burglaries, the county communications center received a no-voice 911 contact from an apartment on Main Street in Marion.
When police arrived at the apartment, one of the men living there said his roommates Mahkimetas and Pingel had been out stealing again. He handed the officers a plastic bag filled with several car cell-phone chargers, a GPS unit and other items.
Another roommate told police that Mahkimetas and Pingel had returned home at 3:30 a.m. with beer and a flask of alcohol.
At 10:15 a.m. on July 15, Krause was called out to the Marion athletic park, located at the corner of Ramsdell and Park Avenue, where he found damage to a door to a building where beer is stored.
Mahkimetas was in court on March 12 when he was charged with felony counts of burglary, theft of a firearm and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He was released on a $2,000 signature bond on the condition that he not commit any crimes.
Pingel was in court on July 8 to face misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. He was released on a $1,000 signature bond.