Lakemont Park vandal sentenced to prison after guilty plea | News, Sports, Vacancies

An Altoona man accused of damaging Lakemont Park property during an early morning go-kart ride in October 2023 pleaded guilty in Blair County Court this week to a charge of trespassing and several related and unrelated theft charges. burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

Caleb Michael Krust, 24, who had been in the Blair County Jail for about a year, was sentenced Tuesday to serve an additional four months to 23.5 months in the county jail, followed by five years of probation.

President Judge Wade A. Kagarise issued the sentence in response to Crust’s guilty plea in May and said that because he is now a sentenced inmate, he will be eligible for work release.

As part of his sentencing, Kagarise ordered Crust to make successive payments toward restitution, totaling nearly $100,000, which Crust will split with co-defendant Nicholas J. Dabbs, 24, Altoona. In October, Dabbs pleaded guilty to related charges in exchange for a state sentence of two to five years with eligibility to participate in a boot camp program offered by the Department of Corrections.

About $70,000 in damages must be paid to Lakemont Park or its insurance company for damages Krust and Dabbs caused after they entered the park on Oct. 28, 2023. They were accused of driving go-karts around the area and causing damage. basketball court in the park, light board and tires for go-karts.

Additional compensation is due for thefts, including a car valued at nearly $25,000 that the couple stole and crashed on June 5, 2023, and thefts in connection with a break-in at a local storage facility on Oct. 10, 2023.

“It was essentially a string of crimes,” Assistant District Attorney Derek Yelensky told Kagarise, asking for a prison sentence of two to five years. Yelensky said his office would not object to Crust’s eligibility to participate in a drug treatment program run by the state Department of Corrections in light of reports of Crust’s alcohol abuse.

Defense attorney Kristen Anastasi argued against the state’s sentence due to Crust’s lack of prior criminal record. She described Dabbs as the mastermind of the car theft, and Crust helped police find the spot where they crashed it.

She also told the judge it would be wrong to send Krust to state prison for stealing the cart.

Crust apologized in court for his actions and the damage he caused.

“I was stupid for what I did,” the accused told Kagarise. “I wasn’t very clear about the consequences.”

Yelensky pointed out to the judge that Krust’s crimes reflected an escalation that began in February and March 2023 with the Altoona freeway intrusions. Crust also pleaded guilty in the case and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 5 before Judge Jackie Bernard.

In sentencing Crust, Kagarise said he accepted the offenses reflected his lack of previous convictions. The judge said he structured the sentence so that Crust’s minimum sentence was 16 months, giving him the opportunity to be released and begin restitution efforts, which would be completed in seven years.

“You’ll have plenty of time to fix this,” Kagarise told Krust, who nodded his head and became emotional as the sentencing hearing ended and he headed back to the county jail.

“I don’t want to see you here again,” the judge added.

Anastasi said she and Crust, who did not object to the requested restitution, were satisfied with Kagarise’s decision.

“We appreciate the judge’s careful consideration of the relevant circumstances in reaching a fair sentence,” the lawyer said.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stevens: 814-946-7456.