Burglary Defendant Changes Plea to Guilty
A Van Nuys man who authorities believe burglarized more than 60 east Ventura County homes changed his plea Monday.
Dennis Wayne Spangler pleaded guilty to five counts of residential burglary. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 29.
Spangler, 52, had been charged with seven counts of burglary, though authorities at one time believed he was responsible for more than 300 thefts in Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Spangler had originally pleaded not guilty of all charges against him, but at what was to be a preliminary hearing of his case in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday, he changed his plea to guilty on five counts. The remaining two counts will be dismissed at Spangler’s sentencing.
He remains in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
According to authorities, Spangler would cruise streets in his gray Jaguar looking for open windows and doors and unoccupied homes. In the 62 east Ventura County burglaries authorities believe he committed, more than $400,000 in property was stolen.
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