Jackson, Michigan

From Jackson’s Citizen-Patriot of January 4, 2006

Burglar could get life

Bryan Allen Cary and his girlfriend spent two nights looting an unoccupied hunting lodge in Grass Lake Township before they returned a third night, when they were chased off by the owner, guns blazing in their direction.

For the burglary crimes, as well as stealing a pickup truck to haul the stash away, Cary, 25, could face life in prison. He pleaded no contest Tuesday in Circuit Judge Chad Schmucker's court to three counts of home invasion, a count of felony firearm possession and a count of auto theft.

"All he does is steal," said Assistant Prosecutor Earl Poleski. "He's just a menace."

Cary, a convicted felon who spent time in prison before he was released in January 2005, faces life in prison for the charges as a habitual offender.

Angelina Mary DuBois, his 24-year-old girlfriend and partner in crime, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation in October after pleading guilty to a count of home invasion.

Police and prosecutors say Cary stole a pickup truck from a residence on Phal Road and brought DuBois to the hunting lodge at 14600 Curtis Road on June 24. The pair spent two nights cleaning out the lodge of everything in it, including an all-terrain vehicle -- which was later found totaled -- four guns, bows and arrows, a TV, VCR, microwave, blankets and even toilet paper.

They returned a third night, entered the lodge and discovered someone was home. The homeowner chased them off, shooting in the direction of the couple.

"If (the homeowner) wanted to kill them, they'd be dead," Poleski said.

Many of the stolen items were recovered, but not the guns or hunting equipment.

Cary, who has been convicted of three felonies and has spent time in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22 in Schmucker's court. All five charges carry a maximum life sentence because of his prior convictions.