Second bedtime burglar sentenced

LACONIA — With two of his victims looking on, "bedtime burglar" Spencer Mullarkey, 34, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary in the Belknap County Superior Court yesterday.

All totaled, Belknap County Attorney Melissa Guldbrandsen said Mullarkey would serve 10 to 20 years in prison with the possibility of getting two years of the minimum sentencing suspended if he completes a series of rehabilitation programs. He was also sentenced to an additional nine to 18 years — to be served consecutively, or after the 10 to 20 — but it was all suspended pending good behavior for 10 years.

Mullarkey was credited with 455 days of pre-trial confinement.

He and Joshua Shepard, 33, committed what police in Laconia, Belmont, Gilford, and Sanbornton say were 51 burglaries throughout the summer of 2010. The two burglarized a number of homes when the occupants were inside and sleeping.

The one victim woke to find one of the two in her Emerald Street bedroom. He ran when she screamed and turned on the light.

When asked by Judge James O'Neill III why he should accept Mullarkey's plea — two previous plea deals had been rejected — atty. John Clothier said Mullarkey has been disabled and medicated for his entire life. He said Mullarkey stopped taking his medication and "lost control of his thought process."

"Mr. Mullarkey realizes this was a terrible event and that he caused great concern in the community," Clothier said. He added Mullarkey cooperated with police, took them to the places he remembered burglarizing, and assisted them in closing many open burglaries.

He has also written letters of apology to his victims and Guldbrandsen said the police and the victims are "on board" with the sentencing recommendation.

"You and your associate held this community hostage for a summer and I'm being asked to incarcerate you for 20 years for 12 felonies," said O'Neill, noting that each felony could carry a separate penalty of 7 1/2 to 15 years.

Mullarkey said he only hoped "he would be given a chance to change" and that he knew it was "extremely wrong" to do what he did to his victims.

After pondering for a bit, O'Neill asked the two victims in court if they were satisfied with the proffered plea and both said yes.

"Ten years (the minimum sentence) is a long time and you certainly have earned them," O'Neill began.

"The victims have been reasonable and quite frankly, I think you got a break today," O'Neill continued. "I think you and your associate terrorized this community for a period of time."

Mullarkey begins serving his sentence immediately. To the Daily Sun's knowledge, he had no family members with him in court yesterday.