One of three men who stole and sold around 50 swimming pool pumps over a three-month period earlier this year was placed on five years on intensive probation Monday in Pima County Superior Court.
Judge Jane Eikleberry also ordered Brett Geraci, 35, to pay more than $41,000 in restitution to those whose pumps he stole.
Geraci pleaded guilty last month to one count of theft of property and two counts of attempted trafficking in stolen property. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he could have received between two and 8.75 years in prison.
Defense attorney Rick Lougee asked Eikleberry to place his client on probation, noting his lack of a prior criminal history. He told the judge Geraci injured his spine in a motorcycle crash four years ago and got addicted to Percocet, a narcotic painkiller. He stole the pumps so he could obtain the drug on the street, Lougee said.
Lougee also pointed out 32 of the 38 people named as victims in the plea agreement recommended Geraci receive probation, too.
The two men Geraci was arrested with have entered identical plea agreements and are awaiting sentencing. Joshua Jordan Wellner, 24, will be sentenced Nov. 20 and Roger Dean Crace II, 36, will be sentenced Nov. 29.
All three agreed to split the cost of the restitution in exchange for prosecutors not filing charges involving 12 other victims.
They also agreed to not pawn or re-sell anything while on probation.
Tucson police said the men were selling the pumps, which include copper parts, to metal-recycling businesses.
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