Serial burglar pleads guilty to more commercial burglaries

Brian Christopher Schotz, 48, scheduled to be sentenced in April for Santa Barbara crimes

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A previously convicted serial burglar charged with committing a new string of commercial burglaries targeting businesses in Santa Barbara over the past few months has pleaded guilty to four out of seven counts filed against him. He will be sentenced in April, prosecutors said.

Brian Christopher Schotz, 48, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of seconddegree commercial burglary and one count of identity theft, a misdemeanor, at a Jan. 31 court conference held to set a date for his preliminary hearing, Deputy District Attorney Michelle Mossembekker told the News-Press. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18.

“His maximum exposure in this case is 13 years, 8 months in state prison,” prosecutor Mossembekker said. Prosecutors alleged in their complaint that Mr. Schotz was involved in a total of six burglaries between Nov. 23 and Jan. 17, and that two burglaries occurred on the same day — twice — during that time period, Dec. 10 and Jan. 17. The six burglaries took place either in downtown Santa Barbara or at the waterfront. The four counts the defendant pleaded guilty to are:

• Second-degree commercial burglary on Nov. 23 when he entered a commercial building occupied by Boat Launch Mini Mart, 305 W. Cabrillo Blvd., “with the intent to commit larceny and any felony.”

• Second-degree commercial burglary on Dec. 6 when he entered a commercial building occupied by an adult book store at 405 State St., also with intent to commit larceny.