Preppy burglar pleads guilty
A 30-year-old man dubbed the "preppy burglar" because of his collared shirt and glasses has pleaded guilty to breaking into houses in Howard and Montgomery counties. His crimes got wide-spread attention because one of the break-ins was captured on a home-security camera (see video here).
Jeremy Matthew Hall, of Silver Spring, was sentenced to serve 18 months in jail. His attorney told me he admitted to his crimes and made restitution. In one instance, he was able to retrieve two valuable guitars from the people he had sold them to and return them to the owner. The two men shook hands.
“I feel that the criminal law in this case was used by the lawyers to do substantial good, by virtue of this unusual restitution effort," Hall's attorney, Thomas L. Heeney told me.
Howard County resident David Irick had returned home one day last year to discover a break-n. He turned on his video from surveillance cameras he installed and saw the suspect knocking on his door and then emerging carrying computer equipment.
Hall was dressed in a collared shirt with rolled up sleeves and a red tie. Police at the time surmised that he dressed that way so that he would appear to be a door-to-door salesman or somebody conducting survey. Heeney told me his client was dressed up only because that's how he dressed for work (he wouldn't tell me where he had worked).
In court on Jan. 7, Hall made a full confession and said he had been addicted to prescription medication. "I have brought shame to my family, my community and to myself," he said.
Here is his statement from court:
Categories: Confronting crime, Courts and the justice system, Crime elsewhere, Howard County
Comments
Hey at least he fessed upt o his crimes like a man. Unlike the guy Keith Mills or AKA Keith Pills, he did not write a letter of apology or even show remorse for his actions. This young man should be given a second chance and work release after 30 days @ BCDC.
Posted by: jeff davis | January 14, 2011 1:08 PM
"Preppy" is an interesting safe-sounding adjective for someone doing home invasions. I hate this and the "preppy rapist" term from the 80s. He's a THUG. And if he were a black, no one would call him preppy.
Posted by: Tony Smith | January 14, 2011 1:18 PM
Seems jail time was not appropriate here. If he had no priors, a PBJ, suspended sentence or at least supervised probation would have been more appropriate. We send people to jail too quickly too much. There, they go from petty thieves or just those who made a mistake to learning hatred and how to do real crime. Plus, it's too expensive to lock up nonviolent offenders. We must offer them a chance. Don't write my sentiment off as bleeding heart liberal, just pragmatist.
Posted by: Bryan | January 14, 2011 2:38 PM
Thug.
Posted by: Steve | January 14, 2011 3:28 PM
He broke into several homes. That is a crime that is associated with a lot of potential for violence. What is someone had been home or walked in on him? No jail time? Give me a break. Home invasion crimes are dangerous to society.
Posted by: Tony Smith | January 14, 2011 9:50 PM