Man gets 6 months in jail for damaging statue

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) - An East Chicago man has been sentenced to six months in jail after admitting to stealing a bronze statue honoring a Polish Revolutionary War hero from a park in the city.

The (Munster) Times reported (http://bit.ly/1QooZVs ) 34-year-old Israel Soberanes had already served the sentence while the case was pending. He previously had pleaded guilty to theft.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Veronica Gonzalez said the unusual plea agreement was offered to Soberanes because he is expected to be deported.

Judge Pro Tem Thomas Vanes told the attorneys he was curious why the crime happened.

Defense attorney Daryl Jones said his client found the statue of Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko (kaws-ee-AWS'-koh) in an abandoned garage.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com