A jury found Carlos Velasquez, 41, guilty of second-degree burglary and second-degree escape, felonies. However, he was found not guilty of fifth-degree criminal possession and resisting arrest.
On July 4, 2013, a Port Chester mother and son were on their way out of their house when the mother realized she forgot her phone. The teenage boy testified in the case that he went back to get it, when he noticed Velasquez in the upstairs bathroom.
The defendant told police the boy let him in the house to get some water.
The mother saw the suspect leave and called the police, who later arrested him. The same day jewelry and watches reported stolen previously from two other Port Chester homes were turned over to police by someone known to Velasquez.
After his arrest, Velasquez tried to escape Port Chester headquarters while being fingerprinted. Police detained him after a brief chase inside the building and then handcuffed him to his cell door. A video of the incident was shown in court, and also shows an officer striking him before handcuffing him to the cell door.
As a result, Velasquez filed a federal suit for excessive force, and Port Chester recently settled with him for $20,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 16 and Velasquez remains in county jail. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
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