Men Admit Stealing Olympic Gold Medal

Three men admitted Tuesday to breaking into the Oceanside home of Olympic skeleton sledding champion Tristan Gale Geisler and stealing her gold medal, among other items.

Emilio Valencia, 22, David Isaac Villa, 21, and Mauro Gonzalez, 24, pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday.

Geisler, who won the women's skeleton at the 2002 winter games in Salt Lake City, reported that her medal, Olympic ring, engagement ring, computers and other possessions were taken during the break-in Jan. 25 at her home.

Investigators said they recovered the medal and the jewelry while serving a search warrant on Greenbrier Street. They also reported finding two assault rifles and other stolen property.

The trio, allegedly involved in a theft ring where they would wear gloves and masks and be on the lookout for one another during robberies, was taken into custody.

The medal was returned to Geisler.

Valencia will be sentenced to eight years in prison, Villa will be sentenced to six years and Gonzalez will be sentenced to four years, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

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