Husband in obituary burglary spree gets 6-year term
The second member of a heroin-addicted couple from Johnsburg who read newspaper obituaries to target and burglarize homes while victims were at wakes has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Jason K. Werner, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of felony burglary in exchange for prosecutors dismissing 11 remaining felony theft and burglary charges, McHenry County records show.
Werner and his wife, Jaquelyn Buchholz, 25, were arrested in September 2012 after police responded to a burglary in Barrington and found Buchholz’s cellphone there.
The two confessed to gleaning information from obituaries to target homes to burglarize in McHenry, Boone and Cook counties, authorities have said.
Buchholz pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to nine years in prison. David Johnston, prosecutor in the case, said the couple are heroin addicts and confessed to the burglaries.
Werner’s plea agreement was accepted by Judge Sharon Prather.
Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Zalud, who prosecuted Werner’s case, could not be reached for comment.
In March 2010, Werner was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of hypodermic needles and syringes. Authorities reduced the drug charge to a misdemeanor and he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined $2,703, given 18 months probation and ordered to drug treatment.