Press Release From Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman:
On January 29, 2025, a juvenile resident of Mt. Carmel stood trial in two cases before the Honorable Judge William Hudson, both cases involving vehicle burglaries occurring in Mt. Carmel, Illinois in 2024.
The first case stemmed from vehicle burglaries occurring at Tri-Kote Inc. on April 5, 2024. During those burglaries, the juvenile stole fire extinguishers from several Tri-Kote vehicles, discharged those extinguishers into the vehicles, and then used one of the extinguishers to damage a vehicle belonging to a resident of 4th Street, Mt. Carmel.
The second case involved twelve (12) vehicle burglaries occurring on the evening of December 27 and the morning of December 28, 2024.
During the trials, multiple videos provided by residents and businesses were shown to establish the juvenile's location at the time of, and involvement in, the vehicle burglaries. Fifteen (15) residents were called as witnesses to establish the location and manner in which their vehicles were entered and the condition in which they were left.
The juvenile was adjudicated guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all charges and ordered to be detained until sentencing.
The State's Attorney's Office expresses its appreciation to the multiple witnesses subpoenaed for trial who appeared and gave up their time to testify in this important matter. We understand the inconvenience it posed and are thankful for your cooperation.
Additionally, the Office thanks the Mt. Carmel Police Department for their efforts in investigating both matters and further would like to caution the public against leaving firearms in their vehicles.