Crazyboy, Saddler sentenced in burglary ring cases

Two men who pleaded guilty to charges including in a case stemming from a major burglary and theft ring in the Havre area were sentenced Wednesday.

Each appeared in state District Court in Havre where Jaylen Jake Crazyboy sentenced and Fabian Joel "JuJu" Saddler Jr. appeared at a hearing in state District Court in Havre, held jointly due to the restitution proposed impacting each, State District Court Judge Kaydee Snipes Ruiz said.

Snipes Ruiz told each she was deviating from the sentencing recommendations of seven years with all but two suspended, and sentenced each 10 years with five suspended on each of their charges, to run at the same time.

She recommended Crazyboy be screened and placed in the Pine Hills Correctional Facility and Saddler be screened and placed in the Connections Corrections program.

Snipes Ruiz said the reason for the sentences was to protect the community and for both to receive enough treatment time needed.

She also said the sentences were based on their court records and their actions while out on bail, which hasn't been "fantastic" for either.

Snipes Ruiz said she was concerned that if she followed recommended sentences, Saddler and Crazyboy might not receive enough work in programs to gain skills and rehabilitation.

She also told Crazyboy that his sentence basically was up to him - if he worked through the programs and did not cause problems, he would be out and on probation sooner, and if he did not cooperate, he would be in longer.

"It's up to you to decide," Snipes Ruiz said.

Their attorneys asked for Snipes Ruiz to follow the recommendations made jointly by them and the prosecution, citing their clients youth - Crazyboy was 17 when the investigation into burglaries started in 2018, and Saddler is 21 - and their lack of significant adult criminal history.

Snipes Ruiz said their criminal history and actions while out on bail justified the longer sentence. She said one of her biggest concerns is that they have enough time to get through and benefit from Department of Corrections programming including chemical dependency programming and work training.

Both are required to pay restitution on the charges on which they were sentenced, but the fees, fines and others were waived.

The restitution totaled $18,504.27, with amounts designated to different victims in the two cases for which each were sentenced.

The attorneys for Crazyboy and Saddler each asked that the restitution be split so each defendant did not have to count on the other to make payments.

Snipes Ruiz did not sever the payments, instead requiring each to make payments until the full amount was paid off.

She said she wants to make sure the people who had items stolen are taken care of, and noted that the restitution will follow Saddler and Crazyboy until it is paid.

"It is tagged on to you for life," she said.

Crazyboy apologized for his behavior before he was sentenced.

He said drugs and alcohol were the cause of these decisions, adding that he wasn't thinking right and would like to get treatment and education.

"I'd like to get back to my life, and I do have a son," he said.

Saddler chose not to comment before his sentence.

Crazyboy is facing 26 new charges after being arrested Aug. 5 after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Havre while awaiting sentencing on the charges addressed Wednesday. The new charges include fleeing or eluding a police officer, obstructing a peace officer or other public servant, driving under the influence, criminal endangerment, reckless driving, speeding on a local street, speeding on a state road, wrong way driving, stop sign violation, driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license, habitual traffic offender, violation of conditions of release, failure to obey a red traffic signal and two counts of "other - traffic crime."

He will be arraigned Monday, a hearing in which people normally enter their initial plea.

The two were charged in multiple cases over the last two years including investigation of a string of burglaries. 

Saddler was arrested after law enforcement officers saw him stop his vehicle then run into the residence where Crazyboy stayed while the officers were investigating reports of burglaries and thefts caught on video Jan. 29 at E-1 Towing and at John Deere.

Saddler and Crazyboy each were charged with several offenses through the year in other cases, then 71 counts stemming from the burglary ring were filed against Crazyboy at the end of last year.

Several witnesses and suspects told investigators that multiple people were involved in the burglary ring, but Crazyboy was the ringleader.

Under the plea agreement, Crazyboy pleaded guilty to one of the 71 counts, engaging in a continuing criminal activity and to one count in each of two other cases. 

Saddler pleaded guilty to one count in each of two of the three cases filed against him. The prosecution is recommending he be given a six-year deferred imposition of sentence for each count, to run at the same time and the other charges to be dismissed.

The remaining charges against each were dismissed under the plea agreement.