A Farnhamville man who was arrested last summer after breaking into Walmart on two separate occasions and stealing nearly $25,000 worth of jewelry has pleaded guilty to amended charges.

Joseph Midkiff, 36, entered a written plea of guilty to the Webster County District Court on Monday, pleading guilty to one count of third-degree burglary and one count of second-degree theft, both Class D felonies.

Midkiff was arrested on July 15, 2021, for the early-morning burglaries on May 27 and July 11. According to criminal complaints, on each occasion, he entered the store in the early morning hours, damaged glass jewelry cases and left with thousands of dollars of jewelry.

Midkiff was initially charged with:

• Two counts of second-degree burglary, a Class C felony.

• One count of first-degree theft, a Class C felony.

• One count of second-degree theft, a Class D felony.

• Two counts of second-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony.

The plea agreement reached between Midkiff’s defense and the Webster County Attorney’s Office included the dismissal of the remaining charges of the cases.

The agreement also includes a joint recommendation of five-year suspended sentences for each count of the plea, as well as two years of formal probation, to be served concurrently with the other.

A District Court judge does not have to follow the sentencing recommendation of the parties.

Midkiff has requested immediate sentencing after entering his written plea.