Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Man admits stealing from retirement center
BENTONVILLE — A Bella Vista man was sentenced to four years in prison after he admitted stealing from residents of a Rogers retirement center.
Kyle Knappenberger, 22, pleaded guilty to four counts of residential burglary and two counts of theft of property Monday. The plea came under an agreement Shane Wilkinson, Knappenberger’s attorney, reached with Thomas Allgood, deputy prosecutor.
Knappenberger was arrested Jan. 27. Rogers police received a call about a suspicious person walking around Apple Blossom Retirement Center. An officer learned a caregiver escorted the man into an office. Police identified the man as Knappenberger, according to court documents.
Police received previous reports of burglaries at the center including a Jan. 21 incident where $ 4,700 in jewelry and $100 was stolen from a resident. A Jan. 25 report stated $500, a wedding ring and personal identification papers were stolen from another resident.
A Jan. 26 report stated two watches with diamonds valued at $3,000, a gold coin necklace valued at $ 1,200, a diamond ring valued at $2,000 and a three-diamond ring valued at $3,000 were stolen from another resident.
The owner also reported other jewelry was missing. Police took a second report Jan. 26 in which $50 and prescription medication were stolen.
Knappenberger was wearing two necklaces he gave to police, according to court documents. Police showed the necklaces to center employees and a caregiver identified the items as stolen.
The owner was able to identify the necklaces as belonging to her.
Police found evidence Knappenberger and Savannah Marks, 22, of Bentonville sold many of the items, and police were able to recover some from area pawn shops, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Wilkinson told Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green that Knappenberger had been through drug treatment.
“If he wasn’t doing drugs he wouldn’t have committed any of these crimes,” Wilkinson said.
Green accepted the plea agreement and Knappenberger’s guilty pleas.
Knappenberger was sentenced to four years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, but he could be transferred to a regional punishment facility.
He was given a 20-year suspended sentence and must pay $10,165 in restitution.
Green warned Knappenberger he could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison if he violates the terms of the suspended sentence agreement.
“You’ve got every incentive in the world to remain drug free and make payments like you are suppose to,” Green said.
Knappenberger was on probation at the time of his arrest. Green revoked the probation. That case could have been expunged if Knappenberger had successfully completed probation.
Marks also was arrested in connection with the burglaries. Her case hasn’t been resolved.