Bruce Stennett

A Butler man is accused of entering a garage and stealing two motorcycles, city police said.

Bruce L. Stennett, 31, allegedly admitted to taking the cycles to sell for drugs, according to investigators.

Stennett was arraigned Friday on felony charges of burglary and two counts of theft. He is also charged with summary criminal mischief. He is in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bond for a probation violation.

Police said they began investigating the case Feb. 3 after the victim reported that his locked home on West Wayne Street had been entered, and a Honda motorcycle and Yamaha motorcycle were missing from the attached garage.

The ignition of a pickup truck in the garage also had been damaged, possibly in the suspect's attempt to steal it, police said.

The truck also sustained damage on both sides of it, apparently when the cycles were removed from the garage.

During the investigation, police spoke to William A.C. Lucas, 46, of Butler, who allegedly told them that he and Stennett had entered the home, supposedly through an unlocked side door late Feb. 1, and gone into the attached garage.

He also claimed he eventually left, telling Stennett that he “wanted no part of stealing the bikes,” according to charging documents. He noted that he did not see Stennett take the cycles.

Police subsequently learned that state police had encountered Stennett Feb. 2 with a Yamaha motorcycle that matched the description of one of the stolen bikes. He allegedly admitted it was stolen.

Stennett was taken to prison and booked on a probation violation. The cycle was impounded. The owner later told police that the Yamaha cycle was badly damaged with a blown motor. The blue and white bike had also been painted silver.

City Detective Lt. Chad Rensel, the investigating officer, interviewed the defendant, who allegedly claimed he went into the garage through an unlocked overhead door and took the cycles.

“Bruce explained to me that he is heavily dependent on drugs,” Rensel said in an affidavit, “and his intention was to sell the motorcycles for drugs.”

He also allegedly told police that he acted alone in stealing the cycles.

Police said he led them to the Honda bike, which was in some brush along the creek bank north of the swinging bridge on West Diamond Street. The owner reported that the bike's ignition had been damaged.

On Friday, police charged Lucas with a felony count of trespass, and an arrest warrant was issued for him.