Prison awaits another member of a burglary ring that targeted schools, businesses, churches and homes in St. Joseph.

Bryson D. Pankau, 18, pleaded guilty last month in Buchanan County Circuit Court to two separate counts of second-degree burglary for break-ins at Central High School and St. Francis School. The burglars stole four LCD projectors valued at $6,800 and two laptops from Central. They stole three laptops, two LCD projectors, two DVD players and four flat-screen TVs from St. Francis valued at a total of $10,000.

On Tuesday, Judge Dan Kellogg sentenced Mr. Pankau to three years in prison on the first charge and seven years in prison on the second charge, to be served consecutively.

The judge then suspended the execution of the second sentence, meaning when Mr. Pankau completes serving the first, three-year sentence, he will be released on probation. If the defendant violates his probation, which will include paying at least $150 a month in restitution, a curfew and no contact with the victims or co-defendants, the judge has the option of enforcing that second, seven-year sentence.

The judge noted that this wasn't just one isolated incident and the burglaries were purely for financial gain. But Mr. Kellogg did state the defendant will have a chance to atone for his actions at some point through probation.

Ron Holliday, the first assistant to the prosecutor, asked for the maximum of seven years on each count to be served consecutively. Mr. Holliday indicated his evidence showed the defendant was involved in two other burglaries as well.

"Mr. Pankau wants to lessen his role in the crime," the prosecutor told the court. "What he is really sorry about is he was caught."

Mr. Holliday noted this was a criminal enterprise with which Mr. Pankau became involved and that some of the targeted schools had to hold public benefits to replace the stolen equipment. The prosecutor added that he doubted the defendant could pay restitution in the case because he had "no job, no goal, no plans for life."

Phil Eveloff, the defendant's attorney, argued his client was "young" and "impressionable" and not involved with the planning of the burglaries. Mr. Eveloff added that his client graduated from Lafayette High School since the crimes occurred and is holding down a steady job, helping to support his unemployed father and disabled mother.

"He is either well on the road to rehabilitation or arrived at the end of the road," said Mr. Eveloff, who asked for probation on both counts. "I don't think you'll ever have another burglary out of this boy."

Mr. Pankau appeared in a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a white tie and khaki pants. He stood next to his attorney with his hands in his pockets for most of the hearing.

The defendant told the judge, "Obviously, I hit a bump, messed up and hurt a lot of people."

Mr. Pankau said he was proud of what he's done with his life since the string of burglaries. After hearing the sentence, the defendant put his head in his hands and fought back tears as one of his family members left the courtroom crying. Even as a sheriff's deputy escorted Mr. Pankau back to the county jail a few minutes later, the defendant still was crying.

He is the fourth of the 10 suspected members of the ring to receive a sentence. Eight of the 10 pleaded guilty already, with cases still pending against Jeremy W. Hayden, 20, and Justin M. Hughes, 19. Tyler J. Stout received 10 years, Courtney J. Kline five years and Donald M. Lehman five years for their involvement.

R.J. Cooper can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com.