Man sentenced for burglaries in Northwood, Iowa

Published 9:32 am Wednesday, September 22, 2010

NORTHWOOD, Iowa — A 26-year-old Oakland man who faces burglary charges in both Worth and Freeborn counties pleaded guilty last week to the two Worth County charges.


Thomas Vaale

Worth County District Court Judge Paul Riffel sentenced Thomas Eugene Vaale to 32 days in jail for attempted third-degree burglary and 32 days in jail for third-degree burglary of an unoccupied vehicle. Both burglaries reportedly took place at separate addresses west of Northwood.

The sentences will run concurrent; however, because Vaale has already served that amount of time in jail, he will not have to serve any additional time.

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Riffel also issued a $625 fine for both counts; however, that was also suspended.

Vaale still faces one first-degree burglary charge in Freeborn County District Court.

For this charge, Vaale reportedly walked into a home uninvited on 755th Avenue in Glenville on July 20.

During a court appearance on the case in July, Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David Walker said Vaale would go from house to house, checking knobs with the intent to commit a crime.

Vaale appeared in custody Monday on his Freeborn County District Court charge.

Public defender Kevin Riha asked for a contested omnibus hearing for Vaale within 28 days.

His bail remains at $40,000 with conditions or $60,000 without conditions.

If Vaale is found guilty of this charge, there is a presumptive sentence of 39 months in prison.

A first-degree burglary charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.

Vaale was previously convicted of second-degree burglary in 2006.