Burglar Pleads Guilty as Jury Deliberates, Gets 25 Years, LIVINGSTON, February 2, 2014 - On Thursday, January 30, 2014 a Polk County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for burglarizing the home of an 85 year old woman. James Arthur Ryans, 50, of Livingston, elected to have his jury trial and waited until jurors were deliberating to change his plea to "guilty." Polk County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Brian Foley explained that on the date of the offense, Mr. Ryans had approached the victim's house at nearly eleven o'clock at night holding a knife and a mini cooker stolen from a previous theft the same evening. Mr. Ryans broke down the door, which had been dead bolted, and was confronted in the act by the 85 year old victim. When he fled from the scene he left behind the knife and mini cooker which were subsequently tested at the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab for DNA. The television was recovered by Livingston police after Mr. Ryans sold it. DNA evidence was returned earlier this month implicating Ryans in the offense and his case was set for trial. District Attorney William Lee Hon wanted to thank the jurors despite the fact that Mr. Ryans plead guilty before they could reach a verdict. "We are so thankful to the jurors who took great care and attention with this case before Mr. Ryans decided to plead guilty. Their time and effort made a difference for our victim and the citizens of Polk County".
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