Man sentenced for breaking into impound lot

EPHRATA — An Ephrata man is serving more than a year in jail after breaking into a police impound lot and prowling several vehicles inside.

EPHRATA - An Ephrata man is serving more than a year in jail after breaking into a police impound lot and prowling several vehicles inside.

James P. Thomas, 22, pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree and three counts of vehicle prowl in the second degree.

Prosecutors agreed to drop four counts of vehicle prowl in the second degree as part of the plea agreement.

Thomas' prior convictions include possession of meth, theft in the second degree, burglary in the second degree and residential burglary.

The sentencing range is between two years nine months and three years seven months.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced Thomas under a drug offender sentencing alternative, sending the man to prison for a year and seven months. The judge also placed him in community custody for a year and seven months.

An Ephrata police officer spotted Thomas walking around the vehicles after responding to an alarm at the impound lot. The man reportedly searched several vehicles involved in homicide investigations, and placed items from a truck onto the ground, according to the police report.

Police found a cut in the fence, but Thomas told police he climbed the fence.