Ohio panty burglar gets 9 years in prison

[June 12, 2009]  ALLIANCE, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing underwear from more than 20 women in a series of home break-ins going back to 2006.

Thomas Williams, 25, pleaded guilty Wednesday to 11 felonies, including nine burglary counts. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor voyeurism.

Williams was arrested in April after police said a search at his home 50 miles southeast of Cleveland turned up more than 300 women's undergarments. Police said they were led to Williams because he had used Facebook to contact some victims, who didn't know him.

The sentence handed down by Stark County Common Pleas Judge John Haas allows Williams to apply for probation after 4 1/2 years.

His lawyer said Williams is now in counseling.

[Associated Press]

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