BELLINGHAM - A convicted sex offender has been sentenced for burglarizing a Bellingham home, getting caught, then trying to return the stolen electronics in a recycling bin.
A father and his kids returned to their house on Peabody Street on the night of Aug. 10, and saw a shadowy figure moving around inside, according to court records. The dad went inside to confront the man and told his kids to call the cops.
The burglar, identified as Derick Lee Roberts, 27, got on top of the dad and punched him in the head several times, the court records said. Roberts told him, "I'm not going to jail," then ran out the door. He came back a few minutes later, however, with some stolen electronics in a recycling bin. The dad grabbed Roberts and detained him until police showed.
Roberts pleaded guilty in September to residential burglary. He was also convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in Washington state because of sexual misconduct with a minor he committed as a juvenile in California.
For both crimes, he must serve a year and one day in prison.
Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.
