Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Three teens have been charged with being party to a string of Shawano County burglaries that appear to be connected to a massive burglary operation busted in November.
Four people were arrested and charged in November in what authorities have called the largest burglary operation seen in the county. Those cases are pending.
Charges against the three new defendants were recently filed.
Dennis J. Thiex II, 17, of Wittenberg, is accused of seven burglaries, most of which allegedly took place in July and August.
Thiex is charged with seven counts of burglary, including alleged break-ins to storage sheds, garages and trailer homes in the villages of Mattoon and Bowler, and in the town of Hutchins, according to the criminal complaint. He also faces two felony counts of theft because of the value and type of items allegedly stolen, including guns, and five misdemeanor counts of theft.
Antonio V. Depaoli, 19, of Clintonville, is accused of being party to three of those break-ins. He faces three felony counts of burglary and three misdemeanor counts of theft.
Logan J. McGeshick-Savola, 17, of Bowler, is charged with two felony counts of burglary and two misdemeanor counts of theft.
Each of the burglary counts carries a maximum possible penalty of 12½ years in prison and $25,000 fine. Felony theft carries a maximum carries a possible six years in prison and $10,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, a witness observed a vehicle at the time of an Aug. 11 burglary in Mattoon that belonged to the Thiex family.
The complaint states Thiex admitted to authorities his involvement in “about 10 burglaries,” and implicated Depaoli and McGeshick-Savola in some of those crimes.
More than 300 items listed as stolen in burglaries and thefts since July 1 — including a cache of 60 guns — were seized on Nov. 21 when authorities executed search warrants in Mattoon and town of Birnamwood, according to the criminal complaints.
Additional stolen items were recovered a week later with the execution of a second search warrant at the same Birnamwood property belonging to Keith W. Bernarde, 61.
Bernarde was arrested in November on felony charges of receiving stolen property, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.
Lorenzo M. Thiex, 20, of Mattoon, was also arrested in November and is facing 11 felony counts of burglary, five counts of felony theft and 16 misdemeanor counts, including theft and criminal damage to property.
Bernarde is Thiex’s uncle, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities described Bernarde as the “fence” in the burglary operation, either buying goods from Thiex or exchanging them for drugs.
Two others were also arrested in November.
Ayesha M. Dodge, 20, of Mattoon, was charged with one count of burglary and a felony count of theft.
Forrest L. Sparks, 21, of Gresham, also faces one count of burglary and misdemeanor theft, as well as misdemeanor criminal damage to property.
According to the criminal complaint, items recovered in the search warrants included guns, sporting equipment, tools, antiques, electronic appliances, and about two dozen car batteries allegedly stolen from vehicles at Mattoon Auto in July.
The search warrants and arrests came as a result of authorities’ investigation into a series of burglaries dating from July to October that included residences, businesses, garages, storage sheds and camper trailers in Bowler and Mattoon and the towns of Hutchins and Almon.
Dennis Thiex, Depaoli and McGeshick-Savola are all scheduled for initial court appearances on May 30.