News Releases

David Bassett was sentenced to four years in state prison

LOS ANGELES — District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today announced that a 44-year-old man pleaded no contest to felony burglarizing vehicles parked at countywide cemeteries as grieving families or friends visited loved ones and attended funerals.

“The actions of this individual are despicable,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Preying on people in their most vulnerable moments — while they’re mourning and paying their respects — is beyond reprehensible. Let this be a warning: If you exploit the grief of others for personal gain, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted. I want to commend Deputy District Attorney Christopher Barclay who prosecuted the case and our Preliminary Hearing Division as well as Los Angeles Police Department Det. Antonio Estrada for their swift and thorough work in holding this defendant accountable.”

David Bassett (DOB 8/5/80) of Rancho Cucamonga pleaded no contest to four counts of felony second-degree burglary of a vehicle on Feb. 11 in Dept. 36 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He was sentenced to four years in state prison. His restitution hearing setting is scheduled for March 28 in the same location.

From Feb. 5, 2023 to Feb. 25, 2024, Bassett committed a string of vehicle burglaries and break-ins at two Forest Lawn cemeteries and the Oakwood Memorial Park and Cemetery across Los Angeles County while victims visited loved ones or attended funerals. In some incidents, Bassett used the credit cards stolen from vehicle break-ins.

Case 24CJCF07486 was prosecuted by trial Deputy District Attorney Christopher Barclay of the Preliminary Hearing Division and investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.