Final sentencing in burglary case expected today

The last defendant in an October Johnson Lane burglary is scheduled to appear in Douglas County District Court for sentencing this morning.

Garrett Cunningham, 19, was accused of picking the lock, opening the safe and removing a money bag from a safe a home while a teen party was going on. He admitted a charge of burglary, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend Western Nevada Regional Drug Court if Cunningham qualifies.

According to court documents, the homeowner and his family left on vacation Oct. 3 and returned Oct. 12 to discover someone had entered the house. Nearly $12,000 had been stolen from a safe along with checks made out to the family business.

A neighbor told the residents there had been a large juvenile party at the house while they were gone. According to sheriff's reports, the party was held to cover up the burglary, so a guest could be blamed for the crime instead of the suspects.

Richard Eernisse, 20, received a suspended 36-month prison sentence in May. A third adult, Lynsey Fecteau, 18, was sentenced for possession of stolen property in April to 30 days in Douglas County Jail, suspended, and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution.