District Judge Dave Gamble sentenced a 20-year-old Yerington man Tuesday to 90 days in Douglas County Jail as part of probation for the theft of $12,000 from a Johnson Lane residence used as a party house while the owners were out of town.
Gamble suspended a 36-month Nevada State Prison sentence and placed Richard Eernisse on five years probation.
He must pay $10,581 restitution, perform 40 hours community service and stay away from the victims and codefendants, most of them juveniles.
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 reports, the party was held to cover up the burglary, so a guest could be blamed for the crime instead of the suspects.
Eernisse pleaded guilty to grand larceny, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
One of the victims testified Tuesday that she never met Eernisse and couldn't understand why he would target her home and family.
"I've never met you. I've never hurt you. You wouldn't believe the hell you've put me through. You stole from my grandbaby," she said.
She asked that Eernisse be sent to jail "or he'll be back on the streets."
Eernisse was accused of entering a crawl space to remove the money from a safe. Codefendant Garrett Cunningham, 19, was accused of picking the lock, opening the safe and removing a money bag.
He was to be sentenced Tuesday but his attorney, Tod Young, said he was participating in residential drug treatment.
Gamble continued Cunningham's sentencing until June 1.
"I'm sorry," Eernisse said. "This is something that will never, ever happen again. I'm not that type of person. I was around the wrong type of people who were dragging me down. I'm ready to do anything for her (the victim). She's going to get all her money back."
The suspects told investigators they spent the money - some of it family inheritance and paychecks - on marijuana, clothing, Ecstasy, video games and a PlayStation.
Gamble said he wanted to insure that Eernisse "has a set of reasons not to engage in this kind of behavior again."
In addition to the jail time and restitution, Eernisse must earn his high school diploma or general equivalency degree within six months of his release from jail.
A third adult, Lynsey Fecteau, 18, was charged with possession of stolen property.
She was sentenced in April to 30 days in Douglas County Jail, suspended, and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution.
According to reports, Fecteau distributed the money, but was not accused of taking part in the burglary. She didn't receive any money.
She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of stolen property.
Cunningham pleaded guilty to burglary. He faces up to 10 years in prison, but the district attorney has agreed to recommend Western Nevada Regional Drug Court if Cunningham qualifies.
