A New Mexico man pleaded guilty Thursday to felony criminal trespassing for his role in 22 vehicle break-ins that occurred in June 2020 in Durango.

Joseph Dyson admitted to working with three other men who drove from Gallup, New Mexico, to Durango to steal items from vehicles, according to his plea agreement.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Suzanne Carlson said Dyson’s plea agreement is capped with a sentencing of up to two years prison.

In accordance with the plea agreement, Dyson will be screened for a sentencing in community corrections.

Dyson asked the judge if his sentencing would run concurrently with a probation sentence he is facing in New Mexico. He is expected to report to probation in the neighboring state once his current case in La Plata County is resolved, he said.

“I just didn’t want to be blindly setting myself for unrealistic expectations from both jurisdictions if that makes any sense,” Dyson said.

Dyson, 33, is from Yah-Ta-Hey, New Mexico.

Carlson said that should be discussed at Dyson’s sentencing hearing.

Dyson, along with three other men, traveled from New Mexico to Durango to enter vehicles and steal items. He also agreed to steal items from the home of at least one person, Carlson said in describing the factual basis of the crime.

Dyson’s plea agreement says he must pay all fees associated with restitution, but no amount has been set.

Gregory Benner, 29, an accomplice of Dyson’s, was sentenced on Feb. 10 to three years of community corrections for his role in the 2020 crime spree. Benner pleaded guilty to one count of auto trespass and one count of felony forgery.

Dmar Elleby, another accomplice, is scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. March 4 for a disposition hearing and a sentencing hearing.

cburney@durangoherald.com