By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 50-year-old Olympia woman pleaded guilty as charged in the Adna burglary that last month sent three home-alone children to hide in their bedroom.
Darlene J. Lockard was sentenced today to almost two and a half years in prison, the high end of the standard sentencing range for her for residential burglary.
Darlene J. Lockard
The 29-month sentence will be served concurrently with the lesser time she was handed down for possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor theft.
Thirteen-year-old Braydon Carper was babysitting his brothers, 7 and 5 years old, when they heard knocking on the door of their Penning Road home on July 12. Just the night before, his parents had a conversation about what to do if anyone came to the house while their parents were out.
Braydon took his brothers in their bedroom and when they heard banging on the door, locked that door and called his mother. Something prompted the intruder to leave right away.
Lockard was stopped by an arriving deputy about a quarter mile away with a crowbar in her van as well as costume jewelry from the house.
Lockard pleaded guilty this morning pursuant to a plea agreement in Lewis County Superior Court and was sentenced by Judge James Lawler.
Defense attorney David Arcuri said there was no evidence his client knew the children were there but prosecutors threatened to enhance the charges if she went to trial, to include committing a burglary when someone is home. If convicted, a judge would have been free to sentence her up to 10 years in prison.
She decided to accept the plea agreement.
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For background, read: “Jehovah’s Witnesses visit: A dress rehearsal for home invasion burglary” from Thursday July 19 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter