Lisa Trigg
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
A Terre Haute man who admitted to the burglaries of 21 storage units around Vigo County could receive a 20-year prison sentence through a proposed plea agreement.
Ebb Howard, 30, appeared Tuesday in Vigo Superior Court 3, where the plea agreement was submitted to Judge David Bolk.
Howard admitted to breaking into multiple storage units around the county on a spree that extended from January to October 2009. He was arrested with his wife Heather Howard on Oct. 22 at their Terre Haute home. The couple were each charged with 21 counts of burglary, a class-C felony, as well as 21 counts of receiving stolen property, a class-D felony, along with drug charges. Heather Howard received a nine-year prison sentence through a plea agreement in August.
Ebb Howard’s plea agreement calls for a 12-year sentence for dealing in methamphetamine, a class-B felony, along with six years in prison for the burglaries. In an unrelated burglary case that occurred about two weeks prior to his arrest, Howard could receive another two-year sentence, bringing the total to 20 years in prison.
Two other criminal cases involving theft and possession of methamphetamine, controlled substance and paraphernalia will be dismissed, according to terms of the plea agreement.
Howard had been set to go on trial Sept. 14 on 21 counts of burglary, 21 counts of receiving stolen property, and allegations of dealing in methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. That trial date has now been vacated.
On Tuesday, Bolk said he did not want to proceed with sentencing in the case without giving the victims a chance to respond to the plea agreement, if they wish. He took the plea agreement under advisement and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
Acceptance of the plea agreement and sentencing is set for Oct. 4.
