Thomas. M. Shutts, 18, of Cortland, and Taylor A. Funkhouser, 20, of Cortland (Photo: Cortland County Sheriff's Office)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Four people are facing criminal charges following multiple burglary investigations that occurred throughout Cortland County during the month of October.
The first investigation occurred at the Classy Chassy Carwash at 876 Route 13 in the town of Cortlandville. At around 11:30 p.m., Oct. 13, 2018, three people—later identified as 20-year-old Taylor A. Funkhouser, of Cortland; 18-year-old Thomas M. Shutts, of Cortland; and a 16-year-old juvenile, also from Cortland—unlawfully entered the carwash, where they caused $858 in damage to various items and stole $250 in cash.
Funkhouser, the 16-year-old juvenile, and an additional 15-year-old juvenile returned to the same carwash at around 3:10 a.m. Oct. 14 and forcefully entered a utility room on the property where they stole an undisclosed amount of cash.
During the investigation—and with assistance from the Homer Police Department—police learned that Shutts and the 16-year-old juvenile also committed a burglary at the Super Cream store located on Route 281 in the village of Homer during the evening hours on Oct. 15. The suspects forcefully entered the store, causing damage and stealing money from cash registers, police said.
During the overnight hours of Oct. 20, Shutts and the 16-year-old went to CNY Power Sports at 3871 Route 11 in the town of Cortlandville and unlawfully entered a warehouse on the property. Shutts and the teen proceeded to ride around the property on several UTV's, then left the property by stealing two additional UTV's and riding them to an area near the Cortland Self Storage facility located at Route 13 and Loring's Crossings Road, causing $2,800 in damage to the property. In addition to the cost of the damaged property, the UTV's also sustained $5,154 worth of damages, authorities said.
The investigation led to the arrest of the same 16-year-old in connection with a burglary at CNY Rentals on Port Watson Street in Cortland.
Shutts was arraigned in Cortlandville Town Court on Oct. 30 on felony charges of burglary, criminal mischief, grand larceny, and conspiracy, along with a slew of misdemeanor charges. He was remanded to the Cortland County Jail on $3,000 cash bail and $6,000 bond.
The 16-year-old juvenile was arraigned in court on felony charges of burglary and criminal mischief, along with misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, conspiracy, and petit larceny. The defendant was released to Alternatives to Incarceration through Cortland County Probation.
Funkhouser was arrested on Oct. 31 at his residence and later arraigned in Cortlandville Town Court on felony charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and conspiracy, along with several misdemeanor charges.
The 15-year-old defendant was charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, petit larceny, and criminal mischief, and will be reporting to the Cortland County Probation Department.
