Friday afternoon Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman held a press conference to release details on the rash of break-ins at Lake of the Woods last year.
34 year old Eric William Pfishner of Elkhart has been charged with 7 counts of burglary, 7 counts of theft, 2 counts of attempted theft and 2 counts of residential entry resulting from an investigation by Detective Jeff Snyder of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.
The original probable cause affidavit filed May 14, 2014 alleges that Pfishner broke into a home at 4368 West Shore Drive in Bremen about April 24th. Taken in the theft were 18 guns and $5,000 in cash from a safe that was broken into. A neighbor saw a dark Chevy S10 pick-up and reported that information to police.
On May 1st 2014 the Michigan State Police contacted Marshall County and reported that Eric Pfishner had been arrested in the process of committing a burglary. The vehicle at the scene was a dark Chevy S10 pick-up which had been reported stolen from Fulton County. In the truck were several items guns, jewelry, coins and a lock box with the Lake of the Woods homeowner’s name from the 4368 West Shore Drive. Police also found a check payable to Pfishner from a sporting goods store for the sale of rifle which had a serial number matching that from the 4368 West Shore Drive address.
Earlier this year Pfishner filed paperwork under the interstate agreement on detainers which requires Marshall County to bring him to trial within 180 days (July 3, 2015) on the initial single count of burglary and theft.
In early February the charging information was amended to the 18 counts.
The new charges relate to a series of residential break-ins and burglaries between February 2014 and April 2014 at Lake of the Woods.
On Feb 11th 2014 a break-in was reported at 3824 West Shore Drive. Footprints in the snow lead investigators to 3832 West Shore where a burglary and theft had taken place. Footprints from there went to 3804 West Shore Drive where a residential entry and attempted theft had occurred and footprints led officers to 3824 West Shore Drive where evidence showed a burglary and theft.
During the investigation officers located a hat, glove and a crowbar which were sent to the ISP lab for forensic analysis.
On February 14th 2014 it was discovered that the residence at 3624 West Shore Drive had been broken into and items were taken. Found there was an opened canned drink setting upright in the snow and a flashlight in the home that was not the homeowners. These items were also submitted for forensic testing.
Again footprints led police to 3634 West Shore Drive where a burglary and theft was committed.
On April 9, 2014 there was a report of three homes broken into. Nothing was taken but that evidence led officers to 3550 West Shore Drive, 3570 and 3566 where a burglary and theft had taken place.
The ISP lab conducted analysis of the glove and the drink can and determined that DNA evidence left on those items was consistent of the profile of Eric Pfishner.
Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said a trial date has been set for November 17, 2015. Pfishner has been appointed Tom Black as his Public Defender.
On the 7 counts of burglary as class B felonies the maximum sentence is 20 years, and the 7 counts of theft each have a max of 3 years, although Chipman said it would be doubtful they would be served consecutively.
Chipman closed with a reminder that these are mere allegations and Mr. Pfishner is presumed innocent unless or until he is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by at a trial.
The video conference is on the WTCA facebook page and also on the front page of the WTCA website at am1050.com
