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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 7:41 amUptown burglaries ringleader gets 65-year prison sentence
12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
The mastermind of a burglary ring that stole nearly $1 million worth of property was sentenced to 65 years in prison Monday for engaging in organized crime.
Damon West had asked jurors for probation, citing methamphetamine addiction, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and molestation by a babysitter as a child.
The same jury had convicted the 33-year-old former University of North Texas quarterback on Friday, and he appeared to sigh heavily Monday as state District Judge Mike Snipes announced the sentence.
The burglaries, which mainly occurred in the Uptown area of Dallas, happened while the victims were out of town. The thieves often spent hours or even days going through apartments and eating food after gaining access by drilling a hole in the door.
They stole guns, televisions, game systems, shoes, women's underwear, clothing and cars. Some of the property was sold or given away; much was held in storage facilities or an Uptown apartment known to the group as "the safe house."
Prosecutors told jurors that at least 51 burglaries were committed because that's how many people claimed property. But Dallas police still have numerous unclaimed items recovered from an apartment and a storage unit.
Lauren Corcia, whose Uptown condo was broken into, said Monday's sentence brought her "a very strong sense of vindication."
Corcia, who graduated from Southern Methodist University over the weekend with an MBA, said the burglars made cinnamon rolls and probably slept in her bed while going through her belongings. Police recovered some of her things, and she still hopes to find jewelry given to her by a friend who died.
One of West's defense attorneys, Karen Lambert, told jurors in closing arguments that West was a good person who did bad things while addicted to drugs.
"We may have a chance of saving a life that was once good," she said of West, who once associated with state and national politicians.
But prosecutor Jenni Morse told jurors that West was "callous, calculated and cruel." Morse and co-prosecutor Felicia Oliphant told jurors to look at the real West.
"He had talent. He had opportunities," Oliphant said. "He just used them for evil."
West's mother, Genie West, said after the verdict that the man who committed the crime was different from the son she knew.
"We're very disappointed in Damon's behavior," she said.
Juror Clare Odom said that while the abuse and drug addictions were considered during punishment deliberations, the jury ultimately decided that West was responsible for the crimes he committed.
"We all felt," Odom said, "he had made the decisions that brought us here today."
12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
The mastermind of a burglary ring that stole nearly $1 million worth of property was sentenced to 65 years in prison Monday for engaging in organized crime.
Damon West had asked jurors for probation, citing methamphetamine addiction, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and molestation by a babysitter as a child.
The same jury had convicted the 33-year-old former University of North Texas quarterback on Friday, and he appeared to sigh heavily Monday as state District Judge Mike Snipes announced the sentence.
The burglaries, which mainly occurred in the Uptown area of Dallas, happened while the victims were out of town. The thieves often spent hours or even days going through apartments and eating food after gaining access by drilling a hole in the door.
They stole guns, televisions, game systems, shoes, women's underwear, clothing and cars. Some of the property was sold or given away; much was held in storage facilities or an Uptown apartment known to the group as "the safe house."
Prosecutors told jurors that at least 51 burglaries were committed because that's how many people claimed property. But Dallas police still have numerous unclaimed items recovered from an apartment and a storage unit.
Lauren Corcia, whose Uptown condo was broken into, said Monday's sentence brought her "a very strong sense of vindication."
Corcia, who graduated from Southern Methodist University over the weekend with an MBA, said the burglars made cinnamon rolls and probably slept in her bed while going through her belongings. Police recovered some of her things, and she still hopes to find jewelry given to her by a friend who died.
One of West's defense attorneys, Karen Lambert, told jurors in closing arguments that West was a good person who did bad things while addicted to drugs.
"We may have a chance of saving a life that was once good," she said of West, who once associated with state and national politicians.
But prosecutor Jenni Morse told jurors that West was "callous, calculated and cruel." Morse and co-prosecutor Felicia Oliphant told jurors to look at the real West.
"He had talent. He had opportunities," Oliphant said. "He just used them for evil."
West's mother, Genie West, said after the verdict that the man who committed the crime was different from the son she knew.
"We're very disappointed in Damon's behavior," she said.
Juror Clare Odom said that while the abuse and drug addictions were considered during punishment deliberations, the jury ultimately decided that West was responsible for the crimes he committed.
"We all felt," Odom said, "he had made the decisions that brought us here today."