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Clifford Leroy Rader, 65, was arrested .and arraigned in 73rd District Court last Friday. He pled guilty to one count of malicious destruction of tombs and memorials, greater than $200 less than $1000, and one count of receiving and concealing stolen property, greater than $200 less than $1000.

On Monday, Judge James Marcus sentenced Rader to 180 days in jail, with 90 days held in abeyance, and with credit for 5 days served. He was placed on two years non-reporting probation and ordered to pay $1,040 in fines and costs. Restitution to victims remains open.

The misdemeanor charges carried a maximum of one year in jail and or $2000 fine, or three times the amount of the damage Ð whichever is greatest.

Sandusky officers and Michigan State Police seized hundreds of items from Rader's residence, after he was confronted by a citizen in a Watertown Township cemetery on Sept. 21, stealing a solar light from a grave. Two pickup loads of property stolen from grave sites have been placed in storage in the DPW garage in Sandusky, pending identification by families. The items range from ceramic animals and solar lights, to shepherd hooks, pinwheels, flags and birdhouses.

Rader admitted to stealing from cemeteries for about two years, said Sandusky Police Chief Paul Cowley. "He says he doesn't know why he took them," Cowley said.

So far, more than two dozen people have contacted the Sandusky Police Department to claim items taken from loved ones' graves.

"We've gotten calls from all over Ð Cass City area, Forester, Deckerville, Croswell, Brown City (and Sandusky)," said Cowley, whose department has been investigating thefts from Greenwood Cemetery in Watertown Townshnip for about a year.

Cowley said one mother broke down in tears when she claimed an item taken from a child's grave.

And a husband who had an item stolen from his wife's grave commented how he wanted to spend a night in the same jail cell with the thief so he could "pop him".

Anyone who has noticed items missing from graves should contact the Sandusky Police Department at 810-648-4016.