‘Career criminal’ gets 3 years in jail for violating probation

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has imposed a three-year prison sentence on notorious habitual offender Ramon Cabrera Blas for violating his probation.

In an order issued Thursday, Wiseman reiterated the court’s position stated at several other hearings for Blas and also mentioned by the government, that the defendant “is a continuing menace to our community” and should be incapacitated or isolated from society by remaining in prison for the allowable maximum term, which in this case is three years.

Blas, 56, is to be released on July 1, 2018.

Wiseman noted that the defendant’s first case of record was when he was only 20 years old and now, 37 years later with at least 18 total criminal cases, he is in court again for sentencing for violating the terms and conditions of his probation.

The judge said defendant’s criminal record, which spans a period of 37 years and at least 18 criminal cases, reaffirms that he is still a threat to the community with his unrelenting and continuous pattern of thefts and burglaries.

“Defendant has proven over and over again that he is a poor probation risk. He is, in the court’s view, a career criminal,” Wiseman said.

According to the prosecution, of 18 criminal cases, Blas was convicted in 13 cases.

Wiseman said that, on April 4, 2012, he reluctantly accepted defendant’s plea agreement and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, all suspended except for two years.

Wiseman said he mentioned at that time the significant repercussions his crimes have had on the community.

The judge said he also stated that Blas should seriously consider changing his ways or he will spend many of his remaining years in jail if convicted again in this court.

Unfortunately, Wiseman said, Blas did not heed the court’s message and within several months after his release from prison, he was again arrested and charged for committing burglary and theft.

Last April 22, Wiseman revoked defendant’s probation.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas requested the court to impose a sentence for the entire suspended sentence of three years.

Barcinas said since 1979 Blas has been in-and-out of prison for various offenses and now at the age of 56 he is still terrorizing the community with his criminal activities.

“The community must be protected from criminals like Ramon Blas, who has complete disregard for the laws of the Commonwealth and has a complete disregard for the probation orders from the court; and therefore must retire at the Department of Corrections,” Barcinas said.

Assistant public defender Michael A. Sato, counsel for Blas, recommended a sentence of six months in prison and allow him to continue with his probation.

Sato said statistically, it is an inefficient use of government resources to confine Blas at DOC.

Last November, police arrested Blas for allegedly burglarizing an apartment complex in San Vicente and stealing a couple’s jewelry, money, and other items worth $22,875.

Detective Catherine B. Pangelinan stated in her report that Blas burglarized an apartment unit owned by retired Judge Juan T. Lizama last Aug. 21 and Nov. 9.