SNOW HILL — A Berlin man, one half of a father-daughter burglary spree last spring, pleaded guilty this week in Worcester County Circuit Court to conspiracy to commit burglary and theft and was sentenced to eight years in jail, all but 18 months of which were suspended.
Through much of last April and May, Berlin Police received several reports of residential burglaries in different areas of the town, each with similar circumstances. The rash of residential burglaries, including three in the span of eight days, had local residents on edge through much of the spring until Berlin Police, with the help of the Worcester Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) were able develop a pair of suspects.
Based on the investigation, local law enforcement in mid-May obtained a search-and-seizure warrant for a residence on Baker Street and, based on evidence collected during the raid, arrested James Hughlett, 61, of Berlin. According to a source, a search of Hughlett’s home revealed property belonging to the burglary victims.
Through further investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for James Hughlett’s daughter, Kate Hughlett, 23, also of Berlin. She was arrested the day after her father was taken into custody and charged with 21 total counts including seven counts of first-degree burglary and multiple counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and theft. She was also charged with two counts of possession of paraphernalia.
The investigation revealed Kate Hughlett would knock on doors at residences in Berlin, often during the day, many of which were left unlocked. Once she was certain the homes were unoccupied, she would enter and take small pieces of jewelry or other items of value that victims did not immediately notice were missing.
On Monday, along with the sentence, he was also placed on probation for five years and was ordered to pay roughly $18,000 in restitution to six different victims.
In August, Kate Hughlett pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree burglary and was sentenced to eight years in jail, all but 18 months was suspended. She Hughlett was also ordered to pay restitution.