Santa Rosa Man Faces Three Strikes Law in Current Burglary Charge

 Posted on December 01, 2010 in Shoplifting, Robbery & Burglary

An alleged accomplice to the burglaries already pled guilty to one count of commercial burglary and possession of a stolen car in the matter. The alleged accomplice was sentenced to county jail time after conviction.

After of a rash of alleged break-ins at vacation properties and neighboring residences, law enforcement received a report of a suspicious vehicle near the Lancaster Estate Winery near Healdsburg, California. Police responded and found the 42-year-old defendant's alleged accomplice in a car containing alleged stolen property from the break-ins.

The alleged accomplice reportedly told police that the defendant had helped the accomplice in burglarizing the properties. The alleged accomplice told police that the defendant was armed with a Colt .45 and was not going to go down without a fight.

Police tracked the defendant to a trailer park. After arriving at the trailer park, the accused man allegedly ran to what police claims is a stolen Honda Ridgeline and allegedly fled the scene. Police claim the defendant tried to run an officer over as he fled.

Police say they engaged in a high speed chase that ended at a vineyard. Law enforcement says the defendant's vehicle got stuck, and the 42-year-old fled on foot. Police took the defendant into custody after sending a police dog after the defendant.

The man is charged with first-degree burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm, car theft and assault of a police officer. The California three strikes law comes into play based upon prior convictions from 1999 and 2003. The two prior convictions that implicate the three strikes law are first-degree burglary convictions.

Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat, "Burglary suspect faces third strike and life in prison," Paul Payne, 24 Nov 2010