News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Property-crimes offender sentenced to 175 months in prison

Posted: Aug. 25, 2009, 4:06 p.m.

Photo: Joseph James Acker

HISTORY:

On April 9, 2009, Joseph James Acker, age 31, unlawfully entered a motor vehicle and stole property. This incident occurred in the Joe's parking lot at 9600 SE 82nd Ave. in Happy Valley.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office detectives assisted Patrol deputies in stopping Acker's vehicle on Hwy I-205 near the SE Otty Road overpass in Clackamas, Oregon, as Acker was attempting to flee the parking lot. Acker was taken into custody without incident by deputies and detectives.

Detectives searched Acker's vehicle and located the following: military-style body armor, a Kevlar helmet, a military backpack, global positioning units (GPS), binoculars, car stereos and various clothing items. Sheriff's Office deetectives believed the property was stolen, and seized the items as evidence.

Acker was transported to Clackamas County Jail and lodged on several charges -- including Identity Theft, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Theft in the First Degree, and Felon in Possession of Body Armor.

Detectives established that the vehicle Acker was driving belonged to his girlfriend, and learned that Acker had been living and staying at a residence in Clackamas, Oregon. Detectives contacted the homeowners where Acker had been living, and obtained consent to search the residence for further stolen property. Inside, the residence Detectives found several laptop computers, computer bags, cameras, miscellaneous camera equipment, CDs, DVDs binoculars, cell phones, sunglasses, GPS units and various clothing articles. Detectives believe Acker was storing the stolen property at the residence. Numerous pieces of property were seized from the location and transported to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Property Room and held as evidence.

Further investigation by CCSO detectives produced information that Acker had been selling property on eBay as well as pawning property at a second-hand dealer shop in Clackamas County. Detectives were able to place a police hold on the property Acker pawned at the business pending further investigation.

Detectives contacted eBay and obtained Acker's history of eBay sales -- which only confirmed detectives' belief that Acker was selling stolen property on eBay.

During the interview with Acker, he admitted to detectives to breaking into hundreds of vehicles in Clackamas and Multnomah Counties to support his drug addiction and to selling the stolen property on eBay and at pawn shops or trading it for drugs.

Detectives examined and reviewed hundreds of pieces of property seized during the investigation. Detectives were able to identify over 30 victims in Clackamas and Multnomah Counties whose vehicles were broken into and whose property had been stolen.

Detectives concluded from their investigation that Acker primarily targeted Ford pickup trucks; the majority of the thefts appeared to have occurred in businesses parking lots and/or premises open to the public, including hotels, restaurants, and/or chain retail business. Acker is believed to have broken into hundreds of vehicles, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

In June 2009, detectives held a property viewing at the CCSO Property Room in Oregon City. During the viewing, thousands of dollars in stolen property was returned to the rightful owners.

SENTENCE:

On Aug. 7, 2009, Joseph James Acker pled guilty to two counts of Identity Theft, four counts of Theft in the first degree and one count of felon in possession of body armor. On Aug. 21, 2009, Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Kathie Steele sentenced Acker to 175 months in prison under the terms of Ballot Measure 57's "Repeat Property Offender" provisions. Acker had previously served a prison sentence in Oregon in 2005 for the crimes of ID Theft, Theft I, Unlawful Use of A Motor Vehicle, and Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. He had also been sentenced to prison three separate times in Washington State for the crimes of Residential Burglary, Burglary II, and Theft I.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office for the successful prosecution of this case.

Mr. Acker's crime spree disrupted many citizens' lives in both Clackamas and Multnomah counties. This sentence should send a strong message to criminals that Clackamas County will not tolerate these repeat property crime offenders.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #09-10828

EARLIER: Citizen kicks out crime suspect's car window in Joe's lot before chase, arrest by deputies (April 10, 2009)

[END]

Chuck Slaney, Lieutenant
Acting Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office