Semi, grain, gas and golf carts: Alleged crime spree ends in court

Adam Huening

A mischeivous crime spree allegedly undertaken by two young men ended in Decatur County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Matthew Hahn, 19, of Greensburg, and Billy Joe Austin, 20, of Morris, were each officially charged with one count of burglarly, a Class B felony, and two counts of theft, Class D felonies. Hahn also incurred additional charges of auto theft and theft, both Class D felonies.

The spree for Hahn and Austin allegedly began on August 29 when two golf carts were stolen from North Branch Golf Course. According to the police report and probable cause affadavits, Hahn told Decatur County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian McCullough he and Austin each boosted a golf cart. The two hit the country, “having fun,” Hahn told McCullough and made their way to the Sandusky area. At some point, one of the carts ran out of gas, and they abandoned it in a field. They went to a home in the 1200 block of County Road 600 North. No one answered when they knocked, the report states, but a window was open, so Hahn and Austin allegedly let themselves in, removing coins, two dollar bills, a basket of medication and Colts tickets.

Back on the road, Austin said according to McCullough’s report, they searched for more gas, keeping the cash and tickets and tossing the medicine. This time it was a home in the 5000 block of County Road 20 East. No one answered, but the garage was open, so Hahn and Austin allegedly helped themselves to some gas cans. Hahn said someone gave chase and pointed a gun at them, so the two ran into the woods to hide leaving the golf cart behind.

Later that evening, after a tip, Sheriff’s deputies found Austin and Hahn hiding in a closet in Hahn’s home in the 2000 block of County Road 200 East. On their persons, the report states, deputies found the tickets and the bills.

Deputies had other interests in Hahn. On August 22, a 1995 semi truck and grain trailer were stolen from the 800 block of County Road 300 North. A little while later on the same night, between 600 and 800 bushels of corn were stolen from a bin on County Road 400 East, just south of County Road 800 North. The truck was later found abandoned in Marion County at the Post Road exit off I-74.

Upon his arrest for the crime spree, Hahn told McCullough on the night of August 22, he saw a semi sitting near a barn off Stewart Road. He checked to see if the keys were there, found them and started it up. He went on a joyride, the report states, then helped himself to the contents of a few grain bins. After that, he headed to a few elevators in Shelby County, ending up at one in Fairland. The operator said he wasn’t buying corn, so Hahn told McCullough he made his way toward Indianapolis, finally dumping the useless truck and grain at the Post Road exit. A friend, he said, brought him back to Greensburg.

Both Austin and Hahn appeared in Circuit Court on Wednesday, both in orange jumpsuits. Hahn immediately requested a bond reduction, which was $25,000 cash. Judge John Westhafer informed Hahn who would ask the questions.

“Why don’t you let me run this thing for awhile, okay?” Westhafer responded.

Both Austin and Hahn had the charges read to them and a not guilty plea entered for each. Austin and Hahn were each charged with burgalrly for the residential entrance, and two counts of theft - one for the gas and one for the golf carts. Hahn also has the additional charges of auto theft for the semi and theft for the grain. Austin, who is on probation for a previous conviction of dealing a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school in Franklin County, was also handed a petition to revoke his probation.

Both claimed they could not afford attorneys. Westhafer assigned Jeff Sharp to represent Austin and set a court date of 9 a.m. Jan. 5, 2009 while reducing his bond from $25,000 cash to $10,000. Hahn, who is already being represented by Chris Tebbe in a possession of marijuana case in Superior Court, will keep his attorney for the new charges. Westhafer wrapped all the charges pending against Hahn into one hearing, also 9 a.m. Jan 5, 2009.

However, there may be more charges filed against the two that will be adddressed also. According to Sheriff Daryl Templeton, several other cases have yet to be filed involving numerous thefts around the same time period. The primary suspects in those cases are Hahn and Austin.

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