HUTCHINSON, Kan. – One of two men convicted of burglary where a large stash of guns was taken was in court Tuesday for sentencing. 18-year-old Joshua Cellers was sentenced in that case and two others.
Judge Joe McCarville sentenced him to two years, eight months in prison, but then reluctantly granted him three years community corrections. The state had asked that the sentence be served, while the defense argued it was a border box case and asked for corrections.
Cellers along with 19-year-old Brandon Hudson were both charged with aggravated burglary, felony theft and criminal damage to property in the gun case.
The two men allegedly used a credit card to pick a lock to an attached garage at a home on Cone St. They then allegedly took as many as five rifles and nine handguns. The burglary occurring while the occupant of the residence was home, back on February 26.
Cellers was also sentenced for two other cases, one for burglary of a dwelling and theft of a firearm in a case from January 31. This occurring at a home in the 600 block of Town & Country.
The third case included charges of non-residential burglary, criminal damage to property and misdemeanor theft. In this case, he’s alleged to broken in to the Extreme Crossfire Paintball at 5 North Mohawk Road, and the stealing a golf cart. These crimes occurring back on January 19.
Cellers had entered pleas as charged in all three cases.
Hudson whose case is still pending is scheduled to be in front of Judge McCarville Wednesday as part of a waiver-status docket.