A Florida man got a life sentence in a burglary case.
37-year-old Mitchel Andrew Searle was found guilty of Burglary with Battery, two counts of Burglary of a Dwelling, Burglary of a Structure, and three counts of Criminal Mischief. Judge Peter Brigham sentenced Searle to life in prison, followed by two concurrent fifteen-year sentences and a five-year concurrent sentence.
On the night of December 11, 2024, Corporal Harrington of the Belleview Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at Shepherd’s Lighthouse, where several victims were residing. Upon arriving at the establishment, Cpl. Harrington noticed the front door ajar, but before he could investigate further, the law enforcement officer heard yelling from an individual across the street at a residence.
Approaching the front of the residence, Cpl. Harrington observed the front door of the home had been kicked in. The individual, later identified as a victim, stated that while they were inside with their spouse and infant child, the front door of their residence was kicked in. The victim stated they armed themselves with a firearm and pointed it at the suspect as he started coming through the threshold of the door…