Maryland Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Series Of Burglaries At University Dormitory-Took Laptops, Other Items In January 2013 At George Washington University-

            WASHINGTON - James Dunmore, 40, of Hyattsville, Md., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison on charges stemming from a series of burglaries he committed last year at George Washington University, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

            Dunmore pled guilty in July 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a total of 12 charges, including first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, and unlawful entry. He was sentenced by the Honorable Robert I. Richter. Upon completion of his prison term, Dunmore will be placed on a period of supervised release.

            According to a proffer of evidence, signed by the defendant as well as the government, Dunmore entered a total of five apartments in January 2013 in the Ivory Tower Dormitory at George Washington University in Northwest Washington. Over two separate days, he took various electronic items, including laptops, and other property belonging to nine students.

            The series of crimes began on Jan. 25, 2013. That day, Dunmore entered the residence hall and went into a student’s apartment while the student was in the shower. He took a laptop and the student’s wallet, which contained the student’s G-World card, a student ID card that can be used to electronically gain entry to the university’s buildings.

            Then, on Jan. 28, 2013, Dunmore entered four more apartments in the same building. He got into the residence hall at about 1:30 p.m. by following another student into the building. First, he went to the sixth floor, where he entered three separate apartments. He took a pillowcase, three laptops, a camera, and an iPod from one apartment. In another, a student was asleep in bed when Dunmore entered the room and pretended to be looking for someone he knew; he took an iPod from that apartment. He went into a third apartment on the sixth floor, but left without taking anything after he saw someone there. Dunmore then went to the building’s third floor and entered yet another apartment, taking two laptops, a video game system, and a student’s suitcase, which he used to carry the items away.

            One student became suspicious of Dunmore’s activities and alerted campus police, who stopped Dunmore on his way out of the building with the stolen items in his possession.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department and the George Washington University Police Department.  He also acknowledged the efforts of Paralegal Specialists Allison Gregory Daniels and Victim/Witness Advocates Kristina Rose and Katina Adams-Washington, as well as former Intern Julie Herward.  Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Sroka, who investigated and indicted the case.