A 19-year-old burglar, on the lam for four months after breaking into neighbors' houses with a codefendant, was sentenced Tuesday to six months in a regimental discipline program run by the Nevada Department of Corrections.
District Judge Dave Gamble set a hearing for July 21 for Jacob Lacey and warned the Johnson Lane teenager if he fails the program, the next stop is prison.
"You've asked me for a chance and I've given you one," Gamble said. "If you don't finish that program, and do it well, the next stop is prison. You need to stay serious."
Lacey faces up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and more than $80,000 in restitution.
He and Kyle Liddicoat, 19, were accused of a series of neighborhood burglaries in July.
One of the victims, who was asleep when her house was broken into, said she felt betrayed by Lacey.
"I lived next door to him for two years. I had a very good relationship with him. I was a little surprised when this happened. I don't think he's learned his lesson," she said Tuesday.
The woman asked Gamble to order Lacey to quit writing to her.
"Jake called me Mom for two years," she said. "He called my children his brother and sister, for him to be involved in taking everything. I hope he serves some time and learns his lesson."
The woman said although Lacey denied it, she believed he was the one who broke into her house because the burglar went straight for the money under her mattress and a safe under the bed, information Lacey had.
"He was reaching in my mattress and taking money from where I was sleeping, reaching under my bed while I'm sleeping. Jake had that knowledge. If the house had been ransacked, I would think otherwise," she said.
Lacey apologized.
"I have learned a lot," he said. "I totally regret what I have done."
Gamble asked Lacey to imagine how the victim must feel.
"Do you have any idea what it must feel like to work your whole life to save something for your children and have a friend steal that?" the judge asked.
"I feel like I really screwed up," Lacey said. "I am really sorry it ever happened."
His codefendant, Kyle Liddicoat, 19, was sentenced Oct. 14 to up to 12 years in prison after he turned down an opportunity for the prison boot camp.
The pair was accused of committing burglaries that occurred July 7-16 at residences in Johnson Lane, Wildhorse and Stephanie Way. The suspects gained access through unlocked windows and doors while the victims slept.
Liddicoat admitted breaking into his own house.
