OXNARD : Man Gets 8 Years in Burglary Case

An Oxnard longshoreman who has been arrested 33 times since 1962 was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday after his fifth burglary conviction.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele sentenced Walter E. Ballesteros, 46, to four years for a residential burglary last Dec. 3. Then the judge added one year for each of Ballesteros’ prior prison terms for burglary, in accordance with a state law aimed at deterring repeat offenses.

Ballesteros, who was described as a “career criminal” in a probation investigator’s report, also has been convicted of forgery, theft, disorderly conduct and drug and alcohol offenses in the past 29 years. He told the probation investigator that he gave up his heroin habit a year ago but continued to drink a pint of whiskey and two six-packs of beer a day.

His most recent conviction stems from the theft of a television and video recorder from his cousin’s Oxnard apartment. Neighbors who witnessed the break-in testified that when they confronted Ballesteros, he threatened them with a gun. He was arrested about a week later.

Burglary carries a prison term of two, four or six years. Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark R. Pachowicz urged the judge to impose the maximum term plus four years for the prior prison terms, for a total of 10 years.

Defense attorney William C. Maxwell suggested a four-year term for the burglary plus two years for the prior convictions. In spite of his client’s lengthy record, the attorney said, Ballesteros has generally obeyed the law since 1985 except for two convictions for being under the influence of drugs.

In imposing an extra year for each of the prior prison terms, Steele acknowledged that Ballesteros was being punished for his past record. “That’s what the Legislature intended,” the judge said.