Man won't face jail time in Michigan WWII museum theft case

A man accused of stealing several artifacts from a western Michigan museum that's housed on a World War II-era warship has pleaded guilty to trespassing and won't face jail time. Sixty-two-year-old John Zaputil had been charged with felony theft for allegedly taking about a dozen items, including medals and lapel pins, from the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum in Muskegon last August. But The Muskegon Chronicle reports that he pleaded guilty Wednesday to trespassing, a misdemeanor. Sentencing is March 25. All of the stolen items have been returned. Authorities said Zaputil is from Iowa, but had been staying at a local hotel before the thefts.