Haverhill Man to Spend 8-10 Years in Prison for 2016 Housebreak Spree

File photograph. (Image licensed by Ingram Image.)

Juan Mejia pleaded guilty to 36 of 57 indictments on the eve of trial, the DA’s office said. (File photograph)

A 26-year-old Haverhill man is set to spend eight to 10 years in state prison for a prolonged housebreak spree in 2016, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett said Thursday.

Juan Mejia pleaded guilty to 36 of 57 indictments brought against him in connection with 34 housebreaks between August and October 2016. His sentence was imposed by Lawrence Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Karp on the eve of his case going to trial, Blodgett’s spokeswoman Carrie Kimball told WHAV.

“While this is not a crime of violence, it has a significant and long-lasting impact on the victims. Their sense of security and well-being was greatly disrupted in the very place where they should feel safe,” Blodgett said in a statement after Mejia’s sentencing. “Too often, the effect of crimes on victims is minimized or overlooked. I am pleased that the court took this into account in sentencing.”

Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Gillespie prosecuted the case, advocating in court for housebreak victims who dealt with unique challenges in the wake of the crime spree.

“One family had to move, another’s young son could not sleep alone in his room and a woman lost an irreplaceable family heirloom, her grandmother’s engagement ring,” Gillespie said. “These victims were not just robbed of material possessions, but of their security and the sanctity of their homes.”

The remaining charges brought against Mejia have been dismissed, Kimball said. Following his state prison term, Mejia must complete five years of probation.