Staples rooftop burglar pleads guilty

EPHRATA – One of the two Soap Lake men caught by police in April and suspected of attempting to break into Staples in Moses Lake by lowering themselves in through the roof has pleaded guilty.

Joseph Babak, 19, pleaded guilty earlier this month to attempted second-degree burglary and third-degree retail theft with special circumstances. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 12 months community custody, and must complete court-ordered moral reconation therapy.

Babak and Veniamin Nikolayev Teslyuk, who were both 18 at the time, were arrested after a witness called police claiming to have seen two shadowy individuals climbing up the side of Staples at night, according to police reports.

When law enforcement authorities arrived on the scene, they noticed footprints leading up a pipe along one of the walls, according to court documents. Believing the suspects may still be on the roof, officers gained access by ascending a neighboring building.

When officers got on top of the Staples roof, they reportedly located a bag containing a number of burglary tools, including bolt cutters and head lamps. The suspects were found hiding behind an air-conditioning unit and were booked into custody, according to police.

According to court documents, the teens later admitted to planning to break into the store to steal laptops, which they planned to sell to pay for, among other things, motorcycles.

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com.