A "career criminal" was sentenced Tuesday to 48 years in prison for breaking into an Arapahoe County home in 2016.
Ricky Lee Reasoner, 34, was found guilty on February 1 of second-degree burglary of a dwelling and first-degree criminal trespass.
Arapahoe District Judge Jeffrey Holmes ruled that Reasoner was a habitual offender and sentenced him to four times the maximum presumptive sentences, as mandated by statute: 48 years for the burglary conviction and 12 years for the trespass conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently and also concurrent to sentences Reasoner is already serving.
"This was a grave and serious mater, as were the prior convictions," Arapahoe District Judge Jeffrey Holmes said. "The legislature has determined this is necessary for the protection of society."
Reasoner previously escaped parole supervision by cutting through his GPS monitor in June 2016.
On June 11, 2016, a 17-year-old boy was home alone in unincorporated Arapahoe County when he heard a noise downstairs. He saw a stranger sifting through items in an office. When confronted by the teen, there was a physical struggle and the burglar escaped.
On July 12, 2016, the teen saw a media report about a man wanted for cutting off his GPS monitor and recognized him as the burglar. The teen told investigators he recognized Reasoner by his "devil eyes."
Reasoner was located and arrested on July 21, 2016.
“Every time he was released on parole, he committed a new felony offense,” said Deputy District Attorney Laura Robilotta, who prosecuted Reasoner's first adult felony convention in 2002 with Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins, in a news release. “He has demonstrated time and time again that he will re-victimize members of society when given the chance.”
“Take a look at this six-time convicted felon. He has self-selected to be voted off society’s island. He has turned his face into a billboard that announces his life’s creed. Spoiler alert: it isn’t ‘winner.’ This career felon is the reason we have habitual criminal,” said District Attorney George Brauchler in a news release. “This guy commits new crimes the second he gets a chance. He has proven at every opportunity that he is no candidate for rehabilitation and does not deserve to be in our community.”
