Olympic Medal Thieves Sent to Prison

Two men who stole an Olympic gold medal during a series of burglaries in northern San Diego County have been sentenced to state prison.

Twenty-two-year-old Emilio Valencia got eight years behind bars and 21-year-old David Villa received a six-year sentence Thursday. They pleaded guilty to burglary and receiving stolen property.

Prosecutors say the burglars broke into three homes in January, including the Oceanside home of Tristan Gale Geisler. They stole computers, jewelry and the gold medal that Geisler won in the skeleton sledding competition at Salt Lake City in 2002.

The medal was recovered a few days later.

A third man was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month and the getaway driver got probation after serving 110 days in jail.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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