(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte area man could receive time behind bars for driving across a farmer’s field on a snowmobile.

 

 

Brett Schuler is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony criminal mischief.  Authorities said he caused roughly $2,000 in damage to soybeans that were still in the field he cut across on November 11 in the area of Indiana 2 and 600 East.

 

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Schuler told conservation officers he and a friend were riding their snowmobiles when his friend’s snowmobile broke down.  Schuler said he was heading back to a truck and trailer he parked when he decided to cut across the field on his snowmobile out of convenience, DNR stated.

 

According to Indiana law, misdemeanor trespassing in a farm field can be upgraded to a felony under certain conditions such as property damage ranging from $750 to $50,000.  Schuler could face anywhere from a six month to 30 month sentence.