A Pagosa Springs man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to burglary.
District Court Judge Todd Norvell cited Lon Peterson’s extended criminal history, including convictions in Denver, Rio Grande and Conejos counties, in handing down the lengthy prison term.
Attorneys involved in the case said it is the longest prison term they can recall for burglary.
Durango police arrested Peterson in September after he tried to use a stolen credit card at Discount Tire Center.
Law enforcement searched for Peterson for several weeks after the Colorado Department of Corrections accidentally released him early from a 10-year sentence for second-degree burglary, for which he was convicted in May 2018 in Denver County.
Peterson, 38, pleaded guilty in February to identity theft, a Class 4 felony.
He also pleaded guilty last month to second-degree burglary of a dwelling, a Class 3 felony dating back to 2017. Peterson admitted that he broke into a home on County Road 223, stole firearms, checkbooks, mail, a computer bag and an expensive pair of binoculars, according to court documents.
Prosecutor Reid Stewart and defense attorney Christian Hatfield agreed to a sentence of 12 to 24 years in prison for the burglary charge and 12 years in prison for the identity theft.
Peterson in his comments to Norvell said he struggles with drug addiction, which fueled his crimes, but said that is not an excuse. The only way he has been able to stop abusing drugs is to go to prison, Peterson said.
“I’ve been no angel,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of things and there’s no excuse.”
Mary Mullen, who teaches a GED program at the La Plata County Jail, said Peterson has been teaching another inmate to read since his most recent arrest.
“He told me he has an addiction problem and that he wants to change,” Mullen told Norvell.
Peterson helped other people in the jail because “I don’t want people to be in the situation I’m in,” he told the judge. He has nine felony convictions dating back to 2001, Stewart said.
Norvell said he believed Peterson when he said he wants to change, but he’ll have to make that decision once he’s released. He’s got a 9-year-old son, and while Peterson must be punished to deter others from committing similar crimes, the judge recognized his work in the jail and his potential to succeed.
“The key for you is to beat this drug addiction,” Norvell said. “You have all this potential to do a lot of things, most importantly being a good dad to your son.”
bhauff@durangoherald.com
