The Woodward News

Local News

March 5, 2013

Entering wrong house leads to burglary charge

Rowynn Ricks Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — A Woodward man was recently arrested after he walked into the wrong house.

Kenneth Ray Bence, 48, is charged with one felony count of burglary in the first degree for allegedly entering into an occupied home in the 500 block of 17th St. around 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning.

According to information in the affidavit filed with his charges, Bence allegedly brought new meaning to the term "couch crasher."

The affidavit states that the occupant of the home heard someone knocking on his door early Saturday morning and when the subject went to the front door and opened it, Bence allegedly "pushed his way in."

According to a Woodward Police Department call log, the resident told police that "a male subject just came into his house and set down on the couch."

In both the call log and court affidavit, the home's occupant told police that he did not know the subject, later identified as Bence.

After police arrived at the home early Saturday morning, officers spoke with Bence who claimed to believe he was in his own home, the affidavit states. However, it turned out Bence was a couple of blocks off since his home is located in the 300 block of 17th St., according to court records.

While speaking with Bence in the residence, officers observed him to allegedly have "had slurred speech, red watery eyes, and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on and about his person and breath," the affidavit states.

Bence was arrested and transported to Woodward County Jail for booking.

Court records show that Bence appeared in Woodward County District Court on Monday where his bond was set at $25,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 19 at 9:30 a.m.

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