Despite pleading guilty to more than 50 felonies, a serial burglar was released from jail Thursday, thanks in part to a California law.
In a Riverside County courtroom Thursday, Christopher Jackson pleaded guilty to 54 counts of commercial theft. Prosecutors say it is the 77th felony he has pleaded guilty to in the past nine months. Despite that, he had to be released from jail.
Jackson, 32, is known as the “snake burglar” for the way he slithered across floors to avoid alarms at dozens of Riverside County businesses. One of the businesses he targeted was D’Elia’s Grinders, where he stole cash and caused damage that cost the owner approximately $3,000.
Authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in dozens of robberies in the Riverside area known as “snake.”
“Since the night our business was robbed, I learned of 30 similar charges in November 2022, and was told that (Jackson) was sentenced to six consecutive 16-month sentences, yet was released in just 10 days.” said Brian Perrone, owner of D’Elia’s Grinders.
During his victim impact statement, he expressed anger at Assembly Bill 109, which voters approved in 2011. The bill’s basic function is to alleviate overcrowding in California’s state prison system by diverting inmates convicted of non-violent felonies to county jails.
However, prosecutors say county jails are also overcrowded, so habitual criminals like Jackson are often released within hours of being arrested.
“How many days will he stay in jail due to overcrowding?” Perrone asked.
The judge sentenced Jackson to 12 years in custody, but with time already fulfilledwas to be released on Thursday.
A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said that because of AB 109, Jackson will not spend any more jail time unless he reoffends or violates his probation agreement, which includes wearing a GPS monitoring device and checking into a check-in center. drug rehab before Friday.
His conditions include 12 years of supervised release during which he will not be allowed to enter or near any of the affected businesses, Riverside County District Attorney’s office spokeswoman Brooke Beare said.
“On top of that, he will have to spend six months in an inpatient residential treatment program. He will also be ordered to pay more than $158.00 in restitution,” Beare added.
Perrone said he doesn’t think he’ll ever see any of that restitution money. Instead, he hopes state legislators will take action by amending AB 109 so habitual offenders are forced to spend time in state prison.
“How does anyone think this is okay? As? It just doesn’t make any sense,” Perrone said.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station, NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.
