EMPORIUM (EC) — An Emporium man was sentenced for breaking into a number of cars in the South Park neighborhood last spring.
Dakota W. Berry, 19, of Emporium, was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 months in a state correctional facility after entering a guilty plea on Tuesday in Cameron County Court. He was remanded to the state diagnostic and classification center in Pittsburgh following the hearing.
Berry had been charged with 33 misdemeanors for charges of theft from a motor vehicle; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; possession of drug paraphernalia; and criminal attempt, stemming from incidents occurring on or about March 30 of last year.
Nine victims reported thefts of items from their vehicles, which included several GPS units, a pocket knife, ATM cards and cash. More than $200 in restitution is due for six victims. Several items were recovered by police while executing a search warrant at Berry’s home during the investigation. The drug paraphernalia was also discovered during the search.
Following the thefts, Berry then went to the Sheetz convenience store in Emporium and attempted to access the stolen ATM cards, but all attempts were unsuccessful, according to Cameron County District Attorney Jeanne Miglicio.
President Judge Richard Masson, who presided over the hearing, said Berry would be considered eligible for a motivational boot camp and the recidivism risk reduction incentive, which could lead to a release after as little as 22.5 months, if requirements are met.
Berry was also given credit for time served of nearly a year since his incarceration on March 30.
Following the sentencing hearing, a probation revocation hearing was held. When Berry entered a guilty plea to the above charges, he violated his probation due to his admitted involvement in criminal behavior.
Berry was resentenced to serve the entire two-year probation sentence again, but the time will not begin until he has completed his time with the Department of Corrections. He had originally been sentenced to the 24-month probation term in April of 2015 following his guilty plea to one count of unlawful trespassing.
