A Lancaster man will serve at least 7 years in prison for a spree of burglaries and thefts last year in three local municipalities.
First Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen stressed in court Friday that Joshua Torres-Gonzalez stole 4 guns – 3 of which are unaccounted for – during the April 2016 spree in Lancaster city and Manor and West Lampeter townships.
“There are still three guns out on the street as a result of his actions,” Larsen said, pointing to impact on the burglary and theft victims and “continuing impact on the community because of the guns on the street.”
Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker jailed Torres-Gonzalez for 7 to 16 years, and ordered that he pay $20,362 in restitution to the victims.
Reinaker scolded Torres-Gonzalez, 22, for failing to think of the impact guns distributed illegally will have on the community.
“Where did these guns you stole end up? Are you going to be sorry for the victims that these guns kill?” Reinaker asked Torres-Gonzalez.
Reinaker called Torres-Gonzalez “part of the problem” with gun violence in Lancaster city.
Torres-Gonzalez apologized in court and pointed to his heroin addiction as a motive. He was arrested with one of the guns.
He pleaded guilty in November to burglarizing homes on River Bend Park (West Lampeter Township) and West Ridge Drive (Manor Township), and entering parked vehicles in Lancaster city. In one case, he stole a victim’s Volkswagen.
Larsen said while addiction explains the behavior, it “certainly does not excuse it.”
Torres-Gonzalez has been in prison since May 2016.
Police officers Willard Smith (Lancaster city), Matthew Wolf (Manor Township), and David Covey (West Lampeter) filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright
