Ricky Alderete, 45, arrested after a Jackie Robinson statue went missing from a Wichita, Kansas, youth baseball league in January, pleaded guilty on Thursday to theft and other charges.
Alderete could face more than 19 years behind bars when he's sentenced on July 1, the district attorney's office told ESPN on Friday.
In addition to theft, he will be sentenced for aggravated burglary, aggravated criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property, making a false writing and identity theft.
The crimes are related to both the theft, as well as his identification and arrest, the district attorney's office said. The prosecutor's office also said that Alderete will be forced to pay $41,500 to League 42, the youth baseball outfit named after the Brooklyn Dodgers legend. «We're glad that this particular chapter has been put to rest,» Bob Lutz, the executive director of League 42, told ESPN on Friday. «I'm glad that someone has been held accountable for this statue theft.» «I hope that Mr.