Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Punishment for burglary takes some by surprise
Multiple defendants were sentenced in the last week for crimes of burglary against local businesses. Christine Bruyn, 65, Christopher White, 28, and David Johnson, 54, all of Zanesville were each convicted of stealing misdemeanor amounts of property from local businesses after those businesses had formally prohibited the three from returning to the stores.
Persistent retail theft is a plague that is experienced in different ways in different communities. In some urban areas and states like California, open lawlessness and “walk-out” thefts are common because they are tolerated, and sometimes even permitted by virtue of local ordinances or non-prosecution policies.
That is not the case in Muskingum County.
Retailers and small businesses located in Muskingum County can expect and rely upon enforcement of the laws prohibiting theft and prohibiting trespassed individuals from returning to retail property to commit crime.
Judge Gerald Anderson observed during White’s sentencing that he had handled many of these cases over the years, and that they almost always result in a prison sentence.
David Johnson trespassed and stole from a local retail store. He had a decades-long record of previous crimes and received a four-year sentence. A person who has a record of violating the law can always expect to receive a more stringent sentence than a person who has not previously been convicted. This is reflective of the danger posed by a person who has demonstrated they cannot comply with the standards of decent society.
Christine Bruyn also trespassed and stole from a local retail store. She had a lesser record of crime, including a history of repeated retail theft. Bruyn attempted to blame her theft on “kleptomania,” which is not a defense to stealing, but is a confession to being a routine thief. She received a sentence of four years in prison, and she will be deported to Germany upon the completion of her sentence.
Christopher White trespassed and stole from a local retail store. He had a previous misdemeanor record. White took immediate responsibility for his actions when caught and pled guilty to the charges against him. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
“While there are jurisdictions where theft is tolerated and even encouraged, in Muskingum County repeat thieves who return to their victim’s stores can expect a prison sentence to promptly follow,” according to Prosecutor Ron Welch.
“That is part of our commitment to making this county a safe and successful place to live and run a business.”
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