Music school thief sentenced to 1 year in jail

An IU janitor who pleaded guilty to a string of thefts at the School of Music was sentenced to one year in jail and two years of home detention Friday. He was ordered to pay the School of Music $1,600 for a stolen projector that wasn't returned and might face a $50,000 fine for the cost of changing building locks.\nKayliff Marvin Bradlee Bennett, 27, was arrested on a Class D felony charge in May after being suspected of stealing several items from the music school throughout the 2004 school year. In October 2003, he fabricated a story to police, providing them with a sketch of a man he said attempted to break in to the music school.\nSchool of Music Dean Gwyn Richards said he testified Thursday because he and other employees felt it was important for the court to know what Bennett had done.\n"We wanted to let them know how long it lasted, what it had done to the environment and how much of a concern the thefts were to everybody," Richards said.\nRichards said the thefts created a negative atmosphere in the music school.\n"If property is being taken against your will, you begin to question your personal safety," he said. "That was a concern for students and employees. It was an uneasy environment because you never knew when the next (theft) was going to occur and from where. There was a general feeling of anxiousness."\nAlthough he was unsure if the thefts affected the number of incoming music school students, Richards said many members of the staff were asked by parents about their children's safety. \nSenior Seggie Isho, a music school student, said during the period of theft, he noticed many students were hesitant to keep their instruments at the music school.\n"Some people play irreplaceable instruments that have been passed down to them by their family," said Isho, who kept his trumpet at home last year. "I think a lot of people were nervous because the string instruments kept on getting stolen."\nIU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said during the time of the thefts, extra security measures were taken in and around the music school, which is how Bennett was caught.\n"In conjunction with the investigation, detectives set up a closed-circuit TV in response to the thefts," Minger said. "We also advised all officers to make extra patrol stops around the music facilities."\nSchool of Music employees are currently working with the IU Police Department to create a complete list of stolen items before the resolution hearing. So far, Richards said, a $1,600 projector, various electronic equipment and a student's $25,000 violin and bow are among the stolen items.\nAfter Judge E. Michael Hoff sentenced Bennett, Prosecuting Attorney Lynda Robison asked that Bennett pay an additional $50,000 to the School of Music for the cost of rekeying buildings, which still isn't complete.\nThe topic will be brought back up during the resolution hearing at 9 a.m. on March 4.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.