Man Sentenced for Grand Chute Heist Using Wrench and Female Disguise

The Details of the Grand Chute Coin Store Robbery

A man involved in a robbery at a coin store in Grand Chute last summer has been sentenced to prison for his role in the crime. The incident, which included the use of a female disguise and a wrench, resulted in serious injuries to an employee and the theft of valuable merchandise.

Michael Thorpe, 40, from Appleton, was sentenced by Outagamie County Circuit Court to 16 years in prison followed by 11 years of extended supervision. According to court records, on August 10, 2024, an employee at Affordable Rare Coins, located at 402 W. Northland Ave., was attacked with a wrench by a suspect wearing a blonde wig, a black dress, and pink shoes. The individual stole approximately $30,000 worth of items from the store.

The suspect was later identified as Beau Wastel, from Wausaukee. In a police interview, Wastel stated that another individual, Cory Schmitz from Appleton, introduced him to Thorpe. Thorpe reportedly proposed a plan to rob the store and promised that the three men could earn thousands of dollars. Thorpe is accused of orchestrating the robbery and transporting Wastel to and from the location.

The Robbery Unfolds

On the day of the incident, at around 12:51 p.m., Grand Chute police were called to Affordable Rare Coins after a report of a robbery and assault. The victim described how the suspect entered the store and asked to see a baseball card. When the employee bent down to open a case, the suspect struck him in the head with a metal object. The employee then ran out of the store, but the suspect followed him, striking him again with a wrench.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for two lacerations on the back of his head and abrasions on his knees and elbow. He received 14 staples to his head. Surveillance footage captured the suspect entering the store around 12:16 p.m. and striking the victim with what appeared to be a pipe wrench at about 12:50 p.m. The video also showed the victim running out of the store, followed by the suspect, who then re-entered the store, smashed a display case, and took items before fleeing.

The store owner estimated the stolen merchandise to be worth around $30,000. The Grand Chute Police Department released surveillance images of the suspect, which led to several tips. Police were able to identify the suspect as Wastel and learned that two other individuals, Schmitz and Thorpe, were involved in the robbery.

Arrests and Confessions

On August 12, 2024, officers from the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Chute Police Department arrested Wastel and Schmitz at the Economy Inn, located at 210 Westhill Blvd. During an interview with police, Wastel claimed that Schmitz introduced him to Thorpe, who suggested an easy "lick" that would yield around $15,000. Wastel said he did not know the specific store until the day of the robbery. That same day, he and Schmitz went to a thrift store on Northland Avenue to purchase the disguise.

Wastel also mentioned that he scouted the store for expensive items before the robbery. He struck the employee in the head and grabbed items from the display case before running out and getting into Thorpe's vehicle. Traffic cameras captured a vehicle matching Wastel’s description, and despite attempts to conceal the license plate, officers were able to identify it as being registered to Thorpe’s girlfriend.

During the investigation, Thorpe led investigators to an area near a storage building where discarded pieces of the disguise were found. In a police interview, Thorpe admitted to receiving $300 after pawning coins he obtained using a fake ID.

Sentence and Charges

At a trial in May, a jury found Thorpe guilty of three offenses: armed robbery, substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, and criminal damage to property — all as party to a crime. Judge Mark Schroeder of Outagamie County Circuit Court sentenced Thorpe to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision for the armed robbery charge. For the battery charge, he received one year in prison and one year of extended supervision, both served consecutively. The criminal damage to property charge, which was a misdemeanor, resulted in a concurrent sentence of nine months in jail.

Status of Other Individuals Involved

Wastel faces the same three charges as Thorpe, along with two counts of felony bail jumping. His plea hearing is scheduled for August 27 at 1:45 p.m. He is currently incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution. Schmitz, in addition to the same three charges, faces one count of felony bail jumping and one count of misdemeanor bail jumping. His pre-trial conference is set for September 11 at 10 a.m.