Syracuse, N.Y. -- A teen accused of stealing a car and driving it through a window of a Cicero auto dealership during a series of burglaries and car thefts pleaded guilty Wednesday.
LaKota Armstrong, 17, was previously offered a sentence of 10 years in prison by the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.
On Wednesday, Armstrong accepted the offer and pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree burglary and second-degree grand larceny.
Armstrong was facing a minimum of 14 to 36 years and a maximum of 44 to 105 years if convicted at trial.
Armstrong admitted to stealing a car from the Burdick Dodge dealership at Driver’s Village on Aug. 22 and to possessing a loaded revolver the following day.
A 24-count indictment alleged between Aug. 12 through Aug. 23, Armstrong broke into several dealerships and stole six vehicles.
On Aug. 22, the teen and five others smashed a window at Burdick Lexus and Burdick Dodge at Driver’s Village automobile dealerships in Cicero and stole a 2023 Lexus RC350, according to the indictment.
Armstrong was out from a detention facility to visit his family when he committed the crimes, according to the indictment. He was supposed to report in but did not, according to an Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
When Armstrong was arrested for the Driver’s Village heist, several of the stolen cars were found on Armstrong’s street and car keys stolen from the dealerships were found in his home, Walker said.
During a previous court appearance, prosecutor JP Walker said the series of burglaries committed by Armstrong and associates caused between $100,000 to $250,000 of property damage.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 14.
Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.