Five Indicted by Los Angeles Grand Jury for Burglarizing Celebrities' Homes
Five people have been indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury this week on conspiracy, burglary and receiving stolen property charges for allegedly breaking into and burglarizing celebrities' homes.
The members of the alleged theft crew include 19 year old Nicholas Prugo, 20 year old Diane Tamayo, 28 year old Roy Lopez, Jr., 19 year old Rachel Lee and 19 year old Courtney Leigh Ames all from the Los Angles area.
It has been reported that the five defendants stole in excess of $3 million worth of jewelry, clothes and other items from the residents of such well known celebrities as Lindsay Lohan, Brian Austin-Green, Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom.
The indictment, which was handed down last Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court charged all five defendants with conspiracy to commit burglary. Additionally, Prugo is charged with seven counts of first degree residential burglary and Lee is charged with two counts of first degree residential burglary and receiving stolen property.
The indictment also charges Ames with one count of first degree residential burglary and two counts of receiving stolen property and Tamayo and Lopez with one count each of first degree burglary and receiving stolen property. All five are to return to court on August 12.
The charge of First Degree Residential Burglary which falls under California Penal Code Section 459 is what is known as a "serious strike felony." In other words this charge falls under the California Three Strikes Law under which a person who is convicted of three strike crimes in California can be sentenced to state prison for a term of 25 years to life. Generally, first degree residential burglary carries a maximum prison sentence of six years.
The charge of Receiving Stolen Property falls under California Penal Code Section 496a(a). Receiving Stolen Property is what is known as a wobbler meaning that it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. One who is charged with misdemeanor receiving stolen property faces up to one year in county jail. One who is charged with felony receiving stolen property faces up to three years in state prison.
Cited Sources:
Lindsay Lohan at Calvin Klein Spring 2007 Fashion Show Afterparty, wikimedia.org
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