Police accuse Mitchell man of breaking in to old Whittier school, passing out on gym floor

A 21-year-old Mitchell man is charged with first-degree burglary after allegedly breaking into the old Whittier School building.

Joseph Robert Churich was arrested at approximately 8:40 a.m. Sept. 1 after Mitchell police were alerted of a break-in at the building, located just west of downtown.

According to court documents, police saw a man, later identified as Churich, entering the building through a broken window. Police eventually found Churich inside, allegedly passed out in the gym on the main floor of the building.

Court documents say police found a blood trail near the broken window and that Churich had a small cut on his left pinky finger.

Churich faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted of first-degree burglary.

Churich is also charged with possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after a glass pipe with marijuana residue was allegedly found in his pocket.

He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

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