EVERETT — Corey Arendt remains a suspect in a string of burglaries that targeted Snohomish County families who were attending funerals.
So far prosecutors haven’t charged Arendt with any crimes in connection with the break-ins. He’s off to jail, nevertheless.
Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis on Wednesday sentenced Arendt to four months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to second-degree theft and two counts of possessing heroin. The charges were unrelated to the burglaries.
Twice Arendt was caught with heroin. He also admitted to stealing a woman’s purse in March. Arendt, 21, told the judge that methamphetamine typically is his drug of choice. He admitted that he has a drug addiction and probably needs treatment.
His attorney, Natalie Tarantino, said Arendt lives with his parents and the family is losing their home. They all plan to move to Oregon.
Police searched Arendt’s parents’ home during their investigation into a rash of burglaries. They found stolen property in a room that was being used by Tyler Chase. Prosecutors believe that Chase also gave Arendt’s mother stolen property. Chase has been charged with several crimes in connection with the burglaries. His girlfriend, Michelle Herrera, also is facing criminal charges for her part in the break-ins.
Prosecutors believe burglars targeted family members of people who had recently died and whose funeral information appeared in obituaries.
Stolen goods have been recovered from pawn shops in Washington and Oregon. Some of the loot was found in a storage unit rented under Chase’s name in Vancouver, Wash., according to court papers.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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