Kent man to be arraigned for burglary of neighbors’ homes

Rachel Hagenbaugh

A Kent man facing burglary and breaking and entering charges will be arraigned Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. to enter a plea for the charges against him in Portage County Municipal Court.

Matthew D. Schmidt, 28, of 1073 Graham Ave., is being charged with two counts of burglary, second-degree felonies, one count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony and one count of receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor, said Vic Vigluicci, Portage County prosecutor.

Schmidt’s public defender, Leonard Hazelett, confirmed the charges but refused to comment further on his client’s case.

According to police reports, Schmidt, a brown-haired white male who stands over six-feet-tall, is responsible for three burglaries that occurred in his neighborhood between October and December 2011. One alleged break-in occurred at Baker’s Towing on Lake Street.

Schmidt, whose distinguishing features include several tattoos such as a 1927 T-Bucket car, Route 66 sign, gas station, cow skull, deer and a 1950s Mercury car, was arrested Jan. 6 in association with the burglaries.

Schmidt allegedly stole a 14 carat ring, jig saw and rotary tool, Big Lots socket set, Visa card, Best Buy gift card, men’s wedding ring and a Macbook Pro laptop at locations on Graham Ave. He also allegedly stole a men’s gold wristwatch, garage door opener for a bay door, radiator pressure tester, impact wrench and MAC gear wrenches and ratchets from Baker’s Towing.

Vigluicci said another case involving Schmidt is already in court, but hasn’t been concluded. A trial is set April 24 for the alleged theft on Dec. 23 of a laptop computer.

Contact Rachel Hagenbaugh at [email protected].