Local News in Brief : Burglar Gets 16 Years
A burglar who bragged about striking at more than 100 homes in the Downey area was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison.
Norwalk Superior Court Judge Michael Cowell imposed the maximum sentence on Refugio Gomez, 22, of Bell who pleaded guilty to 25 counts of first-degree burglary on June 30, court officials said.
Gomez, who boasted about striking at Downey’s most affluent homes during a roughly eight-month burglary spree, surrendered to police on June 22, after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He had been linked to more than 100 residential robberies since his release from state prison in October after serving 2 1/2 years on a previous robbery conviction, said Downey Police Detective Peter Parsons. After surrendering, Gomez was eager to drive officers around and “show us places that he robbed,” Parsons said.
Gomez allegedly netted more than $750,000 in stolen goods, including jewelry, guns, small television sets, videocassette recorders and vehicles, Parsons said.
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