NORWICH – After a day-long trial where the only witness for the defense was the defendant himself, a jury convicted a Norwich man of felony burglary after 21 minutes of deliberations.
Terry L. Sturdevant Jr., 21, Norwich, could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee said his office would request the maximum sentence.
Sturdevant was convicted of entering an apartment on Adams Street in the City of Norwich Nov. 20, 2007. He was spotted by a local neighbor, Jeffrey A. Thornton, who referred to the defendant’s appearance as “suspicious.”
The witness was driving back to work after having lunch at his home when he encountered Sturdevant.
Thornton testified in yesterday’s trial, saying he saw Sturdevant walking “so slowly that he drew my attention.”
Thornton said he kept an eye on the defendant in his rearview mirror and saw him walk onto the lawn of a nearby neighbor. “I didn’t recognize him and he kept looking around at everything and moving strangely,” said Thornton, who decided to circle the block and check on his neighbor’s home.
“I saw him standing in front of the door, like he was about to knock or go in. As soon as he saw me again, he turned away and bent down as if he as going to pick something up, but nothing was there,” he said.
Thornton then circled the block again and parked at his residence. He told the jury he could see the neighbor’s door was open and the defendant was no longer in sight.
The victim, who lives at the residence with her six-year-old daughter, testified that she never left the door locked because it was an inconvenience. The victim also said she never met the defendant of knew anyone who knew him.
Thornton decided to contact police and drove to the front of the apartment house and waited less than “30 feet from the door,” he said.
While on the phone with the police, Thornton told the jury that Sturdevant backed out of the door, hunched over and holding his abdomen. Thornton admitted he never saw Sturdevant with any items, but said it appeared he was holding something.
Police responded to the scene and Norwich Police Officer Jeremy Burdick cut off Sturdevant with the aid of Thornton. “As soon as he saw me in my patrol car, he turned and ran,” said Burdick on the stand.
Sturdevant then ran out of view of Burdick and back into view of Thornton, who saw him disappear into a wooded area and re-emerge. Shortly after Burdick caught up to the two and again Sturdevant attempted to flee, but the officer, who was familiar with the youth, yelled to him to stop. “I told him to stop, I know who you are,” said Burdick.
Police then discovered a number of missing items that were taken from the home in the wooded area were Thornton saw Sturdevant go.
The items taken included a DVD player, CD player and nine children’s DVDs, including Barbie and Disney movies that belonged to the victim’s six-year-old daughter.
Sturdevant took stand in his own defense against the advice of his assigned attorney, Aaron A. Dean. While on the stand, Sturdevant said he and his friends “drank half a liter of vodka, popped some pills and smoked some pot,” at about 11 a.m. on the day in question and he decided he needed money for cigarettes. At the advice of a friend, Sturdevant said he went to the old railroad right of way to collect bottles. This is were he was arrested by police and the victim’s residence is located near the area.
“Burglary in the second degree takes place in a dwelling, a home. If you can picture that happening in the middle of the night, it’s very dangerous and very personal. It is a very serious offense and is considered a violent crime by New State and the FBI. There are crimes against people and crimes against property, second degree burglary is a crime against a person,” said Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
Sturdevant will appear at a later date before Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd for sentencing.
He is currently being held in the Chenango County Correctional Facility.