A Wyo Tech student received five to eight years in the Wyoming state penitentiary for felony burglary in Albany County District Court on Monday.

Brandon Joseph Hamilton, 20, was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,000 and also received a recommendation of boot camp upon his release.

Hamilton was arrested after an investigation into a report of theft. The victim, also a WyoTech student, found two items- together worth well over $5,000 - were missing from a wooden box next to his bed. The Laramie police detective used a database of pawn brokers and found one of the items, a bracelet, has been sold to Mister Money Pawn shop for $1,000 cash.

The detective matched Hamilton’s phone number to a number that had called Ann’s Pawn Shop trying to sell a wristwatch, according to the affidavit.

Hamilton admitted to entering the WyoTech dorm room while classes were in session and the building was empty. He said he took the items because he needed to pay rent.

Albany County District Court Judge Tori Kricken noted that for a person so young, Hamilton had an extensive criminal background and that the court was not going to tolerate it.

 

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