FAIRMONT — Three Fairmont residents face burglary charges in Martin County.

John Mark Kuperus, 47, Courtney Marlene Kuperus, 18, Nathan Gene Pitcher, 28, have all been charged with burglary in the second degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On July 22, a Fairmont police officer spoke with a woman who said she and her family were in the process of moving from a residence in the 700 block of North North Avenue in Fairmont. She said when they returned to the residence to retrieve more items, they noticed the glass of the rear door had been broken.

The woman said a neighbor approached them and stated he had witnessed people taking things out of their house a couple of days prior, but did not report it because he thought they had permission.

The woman said the neighbor described items he saw being removed, including two or three old lawn chairs as well as boxes of unknown items.

The officer went through the house with the woman and documented the broken rear door. The officer then spoke with the witness.

The witness stated that at about 4:30 p.m. July 16, he was looking out the rear of his house when he saw a family that resides nearby having a bonfire in their backyard. He gave the officer physical descriptions of three people who were present, and stated he believed they lived in a residence also in the 700 block of North North Avenue. He stated he observed one of the people, a female, look in windows of multiple residences in the 700 block.

He said he then saw all three parties going in and out of the woman’s residence and carry items into their home, including a box fan, what appeared to be a dart board, three small boxes, some items of clothing, as well as three large boxes. He also saw one of the individuals remove two or three lawn chairs.

The witness described a red pickup truck parked in the back of the residence of those who removed the items.

The officer then spoke with the woman, who indicated her husband had walked over to the pickup truck after the witness had told them about this and observed their chairs in the front seat of the truck.

The witness later called to advise he remembered seeing other items being taken, including an extension cord, sidewalk trimmer and a weed whip.

The officer walked over and observed the truck, which was registered to John Kuperus. The officer looked in the front seat and observed lawn chairs sitting on the front seat. Based upon the information and his observance, the officer applied for a search warrant, which was granted on July 23.

At 7:54 p.m. July 23, officers executed the search warrant. No one was inside the residence, and an officer announced he had located an extension cord, weed whacker and box fan in the basement.

As officers were carrying out some of the items, John Kuperus, the owner of the house, arrived home. Kuperus was read his rights, and stated he understood them.

Initially Kuperus indicated he had permission to be in the house next door and remove property. After talking with the officer for a period of time, Kuperus eventually admitted he did not have permission. Kuperus stated the house was already unlocked and that his daughter, Courtney, and her boyfriend, Pitcher, were with him when the items were taken.

An officer had him contact his daughter, who came over with Pitcher to talk to the officers. Both were interviewed after being advised of their rights. Courtney indicated they went into the house and garage and took items, stating they did not have permission to enter and that Pitcher had unlocked the door by passing his hand through a broken window.

She walked officers downstairs and pointed out other items that had been taken. An officer then spoke with Pitcher, who advised he had used something lying on the ground nearby to break the window.

Pitcher indicated both Courtney and her father were with him when he broke the window, and that John was the first one to remove items from the house.