Woman accused of hotel room burglary may face three strikes law

 Posted on August 02, 2011 in Shoplifting, Robbery & Burglary

Prosecutors claim the woman stole money and a bracelet from Alex Trebek's hotel room while the TV host and his wife were sleeping. Trebek says he woke up in his hotel room and saw a woman rummaging through his belongings. The TV host says he chased the woman.

The woman now accused of breaking into the hotel room says she was not involved in the alleged burglary. The woman was visiting in the hotel and happened to be waiting at the elevator when a man approached her. She reportedly says Trebek approached her and asked if she had been in his room. She says she had not been in the room. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the woman ran because she feared police would become involved.

The woman reportedly was detained downstairs by hotel security. The woman was arrested on suspicion of burglary and is being held on $625,000 bond. Prosecutors say the woman has burglary convictions dating from 1990 and 1991, which prosecutors are considering relying on to seek a 25 to life sentence under the California three strikes law. A decision whether to pursue a three strikes sentence reportedly will be made after a preliminary hearing is held in the case.

Prosecutors say the woman also has a burglary conviction dating back to 1997. The accused says she has done her time on the previous convictions. The accused is being held on $625,000 bond. The next hearing in court is scheduled for August 15.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "Alex Trebek burglary suspect facing 25 to life," Vivian Ho 2 Aug 2011