A notorious criminal known as the “snake burglar” due to his unique method of burglarizing businesses has pleaded guilty to over 50 felony charges and has been sentenced to jail time and probation. Christopher Michael Paul Jackson, a repeat offender from Riverside, has admitted to 54 counts of burglary under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, effectively resolving all of his pending cases.
In a hearing presided by Superior Court Judge Gary Polk, the terms of the agreement were certified and the agreed-upon sentence, which included seven months in county jail and 12 years of mandatory supervision, was imposed. Furthermore, Jackson was ordered to pay $158,235 in victim restitution.
Despite being in custody while awaiting trial, Jackson’s jail term is expected to be satisfied due to his “good time” credits under the California Penal Code. However, Judge Polk has mandated the use of an ankle-attached GPS tracking device throughout his 12-year probation period.
“Unfortunately, this case, although uniquely named, is not unique in California,” stated District Attorney Mike Hestrin. “It is extremely troubling that someone like Christopher Jackson, with a history of criminal activity, can steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from hardworking individuals, confess to it, and receive a shorter jail sentence than the time it would take for his many victims to recover from their losses.”
Jackson, who was already on probation when he was arrested in April, committed a string of burglaries in Moreno Valley and Riverside from November to April, specifically targeting beauty salons, health clinics, and restaurants. He earned the moniker of “snake burglar” for his method of crawling along the floors of the burgled establishments to avoid triggering motion detection alarms.
Hestrin, along with Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and other officials, have used Jackson as an example to highlight the flaws in the state’s legal system, primarily stemming from Assembly Bill 109, which was passed in 2011, and Proposition 47, approved by voters in 2014.
Assembly Bill 109 reclassified certain crimes, including theft, allowing repeat offenders to receive mandatory supervision instead of jail time, or to serve their prison sentences in already overcrowded county facilities. Proposition 47 reduced several theft and drug-related offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.
Chief Gonzalez stated in April that these laws “have made it increasingly difficult to ensure the safety of our citizens.”
The main purpose of Assembly Bill 109, signed into law by former Governor Jerry Brown, was to alleviate prison overcrowding. However, as Sheriff Chad Bianco, Chief Gonzalez, and D.A. Hestrin noted in April, the state is now in the process of closing down prisons and terminating leases for correctional space in various locations, including Riverside County.
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