“Judge says he's hopeful jail sentence will help teen stay out of ... - Grand Rapids Press” plus 1 more

Judge says he's hopeful jail sentence will help teen stay out of ... - Grand Rapids Press

Posted: 31 Aug 2009 03:11 PM PDT

by LaNia Coleman | The Bay City Times

There's still hope for a Flint teen doing time for participating in the theft of more than $87,000 worth of vehicles, a Bay County judge says.

Monday, Circuit Judge Kenneth M. Schmidt sentenced Joshua W. Burton to 210 days in jail, with credit for 117 days already served, for two counts of unlawfully driving away an automobile.

The judge alluded to Burton's record which was clear save for one misdemeanor.

"So this was your first time in jail," Schmidt said. "How did you like it?"

"I don't like it at all, sir," said Burton, 18.

"I believe there is still hope for you and I'd like to give you a shot rather than send you to prison," said Schmidt, who also ordered the teen to obtain a general equivalency diploma and serve three years of probation.

If Burton does not successfully complete probation, he will return to jail for another 120 days, Schmidt said.

Burton, 18, also must help his co-defendants pay $18,000 restitution to Bay Auto Auction.

Prosecutors charged the teen with six counts of auto theft in the March 3 break-in at the Portsmouth Township auction site, 573 S. Tuscola.

Prosecutors agreed not to pursue four of the counts as part of a plea deal. Burton pleaded guilty to the remaining two in June.

Investigators claim Burton participated in the thefts of a van, two trucks, six ATVs and a dirt bike.

Intruders cut a lock to get access to the yard where they found the keys in the trucks, authorities have said. The culprits loaded the ATVs onto the trucks and drove off.

Bay County sheriff's deputies recovered a Kawasaki on M-15 near German where it fell off one of the trucks.

Flint police recovered two of the four-wheelers and a dirt bike in an abandoned garage hours after the break-in, detectives have said.

One of Burton's co-defendants, his 19-year-old brother Jonathan W. Burton, had the same plea deal but failed to show up for an Aug. 4 hearing. Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Another defendant is a minor whom authorities have not named.

Other suspects are facing charges in Genesee County.

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GEICO Ready to Assist Policyholders Affected by California Wildfires - PR Inside

Posted: 01 Sep 2009 01:30 PM PDT

2009-09-01 22:31:04 -

GEICO is closely monitoring the Station and 49er fires in Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif., and has claims representatives and auto damage adjusters ready to help policyholders in the affected areas.

"As your insurance company, we understand that when a catastrophe strikes, one of the most important things we can do is to help make the recovery process as quick and

smooth as possible," said Greg Kalinsky, GEICO's regional vice president for the West Coast. "We take that responsibility very seriously, and our adjusters are on stand-by in the affected areas ready to handle claims as they are reported."

Policyholders can report claims for vehicles that have sustained fire damage by visiting www.geico.com : or calling 1-800-841-3000. GEICO is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) – as part of Berkshire Hathaway – is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer : in the United States*. GEICO provides auto insurance coverage : for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 16 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products : for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com : .

*A.M. Best 2008 market share data

GEICO Communications301-986-3271