A 19-year-old male who was caught with his mother in a string of burglaries last year was sentenced to five years with credit for time served.
After pleading guilty to one count of burglary and one count of theft of property, Patrick John Quinata was sentenced before Judge Vernon Perez in Superior Court to serve three years of direct time with two years suspended.
Quinata and his mother, Nalani C. Quinata, were arrested last year following a string of burglaries in which they stole jewelry, money and firearms. According to Judge Perez, nine individuals were negatively affected by Quinata’s actions.
“The fact that it’s victims (plural), that there’s multiplicity – that’s what’s dictating this sentence,” Judge Perez explained to Quinata. “Patrick, I can tell you, I would hope that you are sorry for what has occurred.”
According to Quinata’s defense attorney Jeffrey Moots, Quinata’s life took an unfortunate turn when he began to live with his mother during the start of high school. Quinata grew up with his father and “seemed to be doing well until he moved in with his mother,” Moots told the court.
Within a year of changing households and being under the custody of his mother, Quinata became a father and dropped out of high school.
“I don’t think that constitutes a normal childhood,” Moots said.
As part of his plea agreement, Quinata will testify against his mother when she goes to trial.
The judge ordered Quinata to turn himself in on Tuesday so he could spend time with family, not presumably including his mother.
Teen burglar gets 5 years
- Friday, 05 Oct 2012 03:00am
- BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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