Homeless sex offender burgles Oak Harbor businesses

A 24-year-old homeless man and registered sex offender was recently sent to jail for burglarizing buildings in Oak Harbor earlier this year.

Louis Scarpino pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court May 21 to two counts of burglary in the second degree and one count of criminal trespass in the first degree.

Judge Vickie Churchill agreed with the sentencing recommendation worked out in the plea bargain and sentenced him to 10 months in jail.

In addition, restitution was reserved to a later date. Scarpino will likely have to pay Island Thrift, the American Legion, WorkSource Whidbey and Baywatch Barber Shop for damages he caused.

Scarpino’s attorney told the judge that methamphetamines caused his client a lot of trouble in his life and he hopes to kick the habit.

Detective Ron Hofkamp with the Oak Harbor Police Office was off duty and driving on SE Barrington Drive in the morning of March 10 when he saw Scarpino pushing a generator down the road. He called to an on-duty police officer to respond.

Scarpino jumped over a fence when he saw a police car, but an officer found him hiding inside the Baywatch Barber Shop.

The investigators determined that Scarpino had stolen the generator from the American Legion and had broken into Island Thrift, where he cut open boxes containing Christmas decorations and toys. A bag of toys was found hidden outside the charitable thrift store, according to the police report.

In addition, the officers found shards of glass and a medallion from WorkSource inside his pockets. The agency on Highway 20 had been burglarized the previous day and a computer was stolen.

According to the police report, Scarpino was homeless and wanted on a warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. He had been charged with child rape for impregnating a 14-year-old girl.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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