2 Sentenced To Prison In Burglary Ring That Targeted Vacationing Newspaper Subscribers
POMONA (CBSLA.com) — Two people were sentenced on Friday for their involvement in a residential burglary ring that targeted vacationing Los Angeles Times subscribers.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Randal Joseph Whitmore, 45, was ordered to serve 14 years and four months in jail. He was convicted in 2014 of six counts of residential burglary, four counts of receiving stolen property, and one count each of conspiracy to receive stolen property and conspiracy to commit residential burglary.
Margaret Mary Susan High, 30, was ordered to spend six years in prison, the district attorney's office explained. She plead no contest to a residential burglary charge.
According to the Glendora Police Department, officers discovered the burglary ring in June 2012, after conducting a traffic stop on one of the defendants cars.
During the search, a Los Angeles Times vacation hold list, which included subscribers addresses and dates they were out of town, was recovered by officers at the scene.
Authorities explained Whitmore and High were among six others who were indicted in Nov. 2013.
All eight suspects pleaded no contest or were convicted, the district attorney's office reported.
Duane Vantuinen, 53, Cory Mulligan, 23, Brian Thomas Duran, 43, and Lorraine Marlene Vasquez, 42, were each sentenced to state prison terms ranging eight to 10 years.
Joshua Ray Box, 45, and Edwin Lynn Valentine, 54, are expected to face state prison terms at their sentencing arraignment on Feb. 25.
In total, the ring stole more than $1 million in electronics, including other items, which were taken from about 20 homes across Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties over a period of two years.
Since learning of the burglaries, the Los Angeles Times reportedly made changes to their delivery policies.
RELATED: 8 Indicted For Home Burglary Ring Targeting Vacationing Los Angeles Times Subscribers
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