Celebrity Burglary Suspect Faces Judge, Says Little
Suspect turned informant decides to wait until next month to enter plea
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He’s an 18 year old accused of being part of a youthful burglary ring that preyed on Hollywood's rich and famous, making off with cash, jewels and family heirlooms.
Suspect-turned-informant Nicholas Prugo appeared before a judge in Downtown Los Angeles Thursday but had very little say. He didn’t enter a plea and his arraignment was pushed back to next month.
Court documents indicate that Prugo has already confessed and implicated others. Prugo told detectives that 19 year old Rachel Jungeon Lee spearheaded the break-ins, motivated by a desire to own the designer clothes and jewelry of such celebrities as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, according to a Las Vegas police search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.
Prugo told police Lee would suggest a target, then Prugo would trawl the Internet for information about where they lived and when they would be away from home.
Officials said Lee was booked on a charge of possession of stolen property and released after posting $3,000 bail.Police say the Lee and Prugo were part of a group of at least six that stole from October 2008 until September. After watching a house, they would break into poorly protected properties, often by simply walking through unlocked doors. Prugo said they removed cash, narcotics and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, including family heirlooms.
Acting on a tip, police arrested Prugo on Sept. 17. He initially refused to talk to police, but on Oct. 6, he and his attorney met with detectives and Prugo "provided a full confession, and implicated several other suspects," court documents state.
Prugo’s attorney is suing a Nevada court for releasing the sealed document detailing his client's confession. Attorney Sean G. Erenstoft said the Clark County District Court violated a judge's order to keep the document sealed.
Prugo is expected to back in court on December 2nd when he’s expected to say more about the alleged burglary ring. In the meantime, he’s walking around free on $100,000 bail.
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