Heroin addict admits stealing from family

A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to grand larceny, admitting for the second time he stole from his family to finance a heroin addiction.

Tyler Scott Schroeder faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines at his sentencing Aug. 17.

Schroeder is to be sentenced for the grand larceny and a July 2009 conviction of possession of stolen property.

In the most recent case, Schroeder admitted stealing three video games, three game controllers, a laptop computer and two iPods in March.

Schroeder told District Judge Dave Gamble he stole the items to pay off his drug dealer.

"I relapsed and started using again. I owed a drug dealer some money. I was threatened if I didn't pay," Schroeder said.

"You committed one felony to pay off another felony?" Gamble asked. "Why did he do that (threaten)? Because he's a drug dealer."

In the 2009 case, Schroeder admitted stealing a flat-screen television from the Village Motel, leaving Rancho Grande restaurant without paying his bill and possession of $3,000 in jewelry he stole from his mother.

He was admitted to Western Regional Drug Court but was terminated for noncompliance and faces five years and a $10,000 fine.

"You could go to prison for 10 years," Gamble said. "How is this lifestyle treating you so far?"

Gamble ordered Schroeder to remain in Douglas County Jail where he's being held on $57,122 cash bail since he was extradited from California last month.

"He is going to stay right where he is," Gamble said.