N.Y. man rejects plea offer in Westport home jewelry theft

STAMFORD — A New York man accused of breaking into a Westport home and stealing more than $60,000 of jewelry rejected an offer on Wednesday that would have seen him serve no jail time.

Earlier this year, Stamford Superior Court Judge Gary White made a court offer to Franco SaladrigasGarcia, 29, of the Bronx, N.Y.: if he would plead guilty to possession of burglary tools, first-degree larceny and third-degree burglary, he would receive a suspended seven-year sentence with a one-year conditional discharge, a form of probation.

On Wednesday, Saladrigas-Garcia formally rejected White’s offer. He also rejected a similar offer from the state to plead guilty to the same crimes in return for seven years in prison.

Saladrigas-Garcia faces charges of possession of burglary tools, first-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and two counts of firstdegree failure to appear.

The 29-year-old was arrested following a residential burglary in Westport where more than $60,000 in jewelry on April 11, 2020.

Six days after the theft, police pulled over a vehicle driven by Saladrigas-Garcia on the Merritt Parkway. During the traffic stop, police found several pairs of gloves, a crowbar and a large knife. The crowbar appeared to match the tool used in the Westport burglary, police said at the time.

Saladrigas-Garcia was later released from custody on a promise to appear in court.

He is now awaiting trial at Stamford Superior Court following the rejection of the court and state’s offers.