2 schools in Marin earn statewide recognition

A San Francisco man who stole merchandise from two businesses in Marin County received a six-month jail sentence.

Nicholas Joseph Whitaker, 32, was arrested last June on suspicion of stealing about $1,200 in goods from the West Marine store in Marin City, according to a probation department report. Deputies found him at a bus stop nearby and recovered the property from his backpack. The district attorney’s office charged him with grand theft.

In February, while the case was still pending in court, Whitaker smashed a display case at the Target in Novato and fled with electronics, the probation report said. A few hours later, Novato police spotted him near Highway 101 and arrested him after he ran across the freeway. Police found allegedly stolen Apple devices in his possession.

“It should be noted that be

fore the second offense occurred, the defendant committed another offense in San Francisco for which he was convicted and sentenced to serve 14 days in jail,” the probation report said. “According to the defendant’s

criminal record, he received many probation grants providing him with many opportunities to successfully address his substance abuse and his criminal behavior. Yet, the defendant continues to engage in similar conduct.”

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office filed another case charging Whitaker with burglary and resisting

police. Whitaker eventually accepted a plea offer for the 120-day sentence.

Judge Geoffrey Howard approved the deal on Thursday. By then, Whitaker had accrued enough time in jail and credit for good behavior to have satisfied the sentence.

Howard also placed Whitaker on probation for two years and ordered him

to stay away from the two stores.

According to the probation report, Whitaker is a heroin and methamphetamine addict with about three dozen criminal cases filed against him since 2009. The cases were filed for alleged crimes in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara and Orange counties, and Arizona.