Zuchnik pleads guilty in catalytic convertor theft case

Alexander Zuchnik, 30, pleaded guilty to two more cases as part of a major investigation into catalytic converter thefts plaguing this region of Michigan.

Appearing by Zoom from Carson Correctional, Zuchnik pleaded guilty to larceny from a motor vehicle, a five-year felony, and receiving and concealing a stolen firearm that has a maximum penalty of up to 10 years incarceration.

In a plea agreement, all other charges will be dismissed and he will be sentenced concurrently to the other sentence he is now serving.

Zuchnik is serving a 10-30 years sentence after pleading guilty to a June 2020 first-degree home invasion in St. Joseph County. Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced him in July this year.

In Branch County Circuit Court, Zuchnik said on June 11, 2020, he picked up an “associate” in Branch County who had a gun with him. He knew it was stolen. He then drove the man back to Three Rivers.

Judge William O’Grady pointed out “later on in 2020, between November and through December, this is when a group of you were running around stealing, catalytic converters off of cars, then selling them to get money because of all the precious metals.”

Zuchnik said he used a Sawzall on cars he thought might be abandoned.

“I wasn't cutting them off new cars or stuff like that. I was in the middle of my intensive addiction and I was trying to make money," he said. He had been addicted to meth.

The thefts in the plea were from a used car repair lot on North Matteson Lake Road.

Zuchnik said he took then to a recycler where he could get between $100 to $1,200 per convertor.

“Most were like $100 to $200," he said.

Zuchnik will be sentenced in January. Under the St. Joseph County sentence, he will not be eligible for parole until June 2031.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Zuchnik pleads guilty in catalytic convertor theft case