A Jefferson City man was sentenced recently before Callaway County Circuit Judge Jeff Harris.
James Dallas Egbert, 28, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to four counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary and one count of felony stealing.
According to officials at the Callaway County prosecutors office, Egbert admitted he repeatedly burglarized a residence on County Road 452, and stole firearms from the residence on one occasion (between August 2016-October 2017).
During three of the first-degree burglaries, at least one of the homeowners was present in the residence. According to prosecutors, Egbert admitted that on another occasion he was armed with a machete.
The homeowner appeared at sentencing and testified about the fear she had been living in during the 14 months the crimes remained unsolved. The victim also said the incidents had been captured on surveillance video and the perpetrator was wearing a ski mask - at times, taunting the surveillance cameras.
Harris sentenced Egbert to five years in prison on each of the second-degree burglary charges and the stealing charge, and ordered those sentences to be served consecutively to each other.
Harris also sentenced Egbert to eight years in prison for each of the first-degree burglary charges, and ordered those sentences be served concurrently with each other and the other sentences, for a total of 15 years in prison.
In addition, the judge ordered Egbert to pay more than $5,000 in restitution to the victims.
His co-defendant in the case, Sandy Ray Gallaspie, 58, also of Jefferson City, was due to appear in court the same day but did not appear. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.