Jason Harrell
By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – The Wabash man who broke into Alcoholics Anonymous and Curt’s Barber Shop in June of 2015 changed his plea to guilty Monday in the Wabash Circuit Court. Jason Harrell faced one count of arson as a level 4 felony, two counts of burglary as a level 5 felony and one count of being an habitual offender.
On June 18, 2015, Harrell broke into the Alcoholics Anonymous location on Stitt Street in Wabash with the intent to steal. Harrell, who used to work in the office, had broken in several times on previous occasions, according to police, which prompted the owner to install a DVR video surveillance system. According to a police affidavit, when Harrell was leaving the scene of the crime on June 18 of last year, he noticed the camera at the back door and broke back into the AA office. When he could not find the DVR system, broke into neighboring Curt’s Barber Shop. There, Harrell stole two computers thinking they recorded his crime. Harrell then told police he set fire to the two buildings so as to erase evidence of his crime.
He told police that he only stole $67 that night, which went to purchase drugs. In 1997, Harrell was convicted for burglary and in 2005 of possession of a narcotic drug after police found heroin in his vehicle.
A half-dozen of Harrell’s family members sat in the front row of the third floor Wabash Circuit courtroom at the Wabash Judicial Center Monday when Harrell entered his guilty plea.
Final sentencing is expected next month.