Sullivan County District Attorney Jim Farrell announced today that James McDonnell, 21, of Liberty, N.Y. was sentenced to 5 years in state prison and 5 years of post release supervision for Burglary in the 2nd Degree, a class C violent felony on May 22, 2012 in Sullivan County Court.

McDonnell admitted to breaking into a home on State Route 52 in the Town of Liberty with two other men, Christopher Wallace-Hill, 24, and Brian Hendrickson, 21, also both of Liberty, on December 6, 2011, and stealing a computer, electronics, jewelry and other property. Farrell said that the resident of the home left their house early in the morning and upon returning just 3 hours later discovered that the home had been burglarized and various property stolen.

All three men were arrested after an investigation by the New York State Police and the Village of Liberty Police on December 14, 2011. “The police did a terrific job in apprehending these three individuals and my office will continue to vigorously prosecute home burglars. We will ensure that home burglars are held accountable and receive state prison sentences.”, Farrell said.

Wallace-Hill and Hendrickson both previously entered pleas of guilty to burglary and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2012. Both men are also expected to receive state prison sentences when they are sentenced for their roles in the burglary.