Marshall Chafee, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He also will have to serve three months in Department of Corrections custody.
Authorities say Chafee, 18-year-old Zechariah Sampsel and a 15-year-old participated in the week-long theft spree, during which they stole cash from the front desks of two hotels by distracting the clerks.
The trio reportedly told Fairbanks police that while staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites in December they went to nearby Wal-Mart to purchase a sledgehammer, a smaller hammer and a pry bar and used the tools to break into other businesses in the area, including the Chaz Limited body shop and the Splash and Dash car wash.
The group also intended to steal a safe from the Bible Baptist Church but was scared off by the sound of an alarm, according to court records.
Chafee’s attorney, Nelson Traverso, said his client has taken to volunteering at the soup kitchen since his initial arrest. He is not required to perform any community service.
Chafee and Sampsel must also pay about $2,000 in restitution to the businesses.
Sampsel received the same sentence at a hearing earlier this month.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
Skip the 3 months and give them 10 lashes each on their sitters?
-ntxtb