Belle Vernon man gets up to 5 years for burglarizing district judge’s home
A Belle Vernon man was sentenced in Fayette County Court on Thursday to up to five years in prison, and was ordered to make restitution to the magisterial district judge whose home he burglarized in December 2014.
Michael Bronson, 28, told President Judge John F. Wagner Jr. that he’s been trying in earnest to retrieve items he stole from Senior Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer, including a computer and a lapel pin in the design of the scales of justice, which was a retirement gift.
“I am deeply sorry for what I’ve done,” Bronson said.
Bronson, represented by attorney Dianne Zerega, entered a general plea of guilty on Tuesday to burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass.
Wagner laid out the facts of the case, verifying with Zerega and Assistant District Attorney Meghann Mikluscak the gist of what occurred on the evening of Dec. 28, 2014.
“(Bronson had) gone to Jesse Cramer’s house to see him,” Wagner said, adding that the records state Bronson and Cramer knew each other through sports activities.
“He realized no one was home, so he went and took something valued at $1,000, and some other items,” Wagner said, in order to generate funds to buy controlled substances.
“They have more value to (Cramer) than the monetary value itself,” said Wagner.
Bronson acknowledged that it was important to retrieve the computer because there were photographs stored on it that were of value to Cramer.
“And his scales of justice — I know that means a lot to him and I want to get them back,” said Bronson.
In handing down the 2-to-5-year sentence, Wagner also recommended Bronson as an appropriate candidate for the state’s boot camp program.
According to the state Department of Corrections, boot camp inmates participate in a six-month military-style boot camp, with focus on treatment, education, work and self-discipline.