Hollister resident Martha Castaneda sentenced to 180 days in
connection with large-scale burglary and fencing rings, and
puppy-napping
Hollister – The Hollister woman convicted of felony burglary and possession of stolen property in connection with a puppy-napping and large-scale burglary ring was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in the San Benito County Jail.
When Martha Castaneda, 27, was arrested last year, police connected stolen property she had with three other residential burglaries that occurred during October of 2005, along with the burglary on Clearview Drive where the eight 3-week-old golden retriever puppies were stolen. Six of the eight puppies have since been recovered, unharmed. After Castaneda’s arrest, police uncovered a large burglary and fencing operation and seized nearly $100,000 in stolen property.
Castaneda, the mother of three young children, apologized to the victims in a court statement Thursday. She blamed her involvement in the burglaries on addiction to methamphetamine.
“I feel I am only a victim of this drug. It can cause you to not think right, to not care about anything or anyone,” she wrote in the statement. “I’m not excusing my actions, but I know in my right state of mind, I would never do something like this. I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I’m embarrassed.”
In addition to jail time, Castaneda must pay restitution, complete five years of probation and undergo treatment for drug addiction.
Castaneda’s attorney, Chester Phillips, said he believes the sentence was fair in light of the fact that his client never participated in the actual burglaries.
“She has been portrayed very darkly, but she did not want to hurt those puppies, she didn’t even take those puppies,” he said. “Her felony charges involved her complicity in the burglaries. She was waiting in the car when they happened.”
While in jail, Castaneda’s three children will be in the care of her mother, Phillips said. He also said that she was unlikely to commit any crimes in the future.
“She feels terrible, horrible,” Phillips said. “I don’t think she is likely to re-offend.”
District Attorney John Sarsfield agreed that the sentence was fair.
“I thought it was appropriate,” he said. “Most of the dogs were recovered. At least they weren’t killed.”
Castaneda’s arrest led to three more arrests – Sergio Covarrubias, his wife Antonia Covarrubias and Sergio Torres. All were part of the burglary ring that police tied to six burglaries during a three-month period last year. Antonia Covarrubias was convicted last month of misdemeanor possession of stolen property and fined $915, according to her attorney, Greg LaForge. Her husband, who is awaiting sentencing, was also convicted of felony possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and burglary, according to his attorney Harry Damkar.
Torres has not yet been charged, according to court documents.
