Man who got stuck in Seattle chimney convicted of burglary
By APWednesday, July 21, 2010
Man who got stuck in chimney convicted of burglary
SEATTLE — A man police dubbed the “Santa Claus burglar” after he got stuck in the chimney of a large Seattle home earlier this year has been convicted of residential burglary.
A King County jury returned that verdict Tuesday.
Jurors were told that on Feb. 19, Shon Shanell put a chair on top of a central air conditioning unit to get onto the roof of the home. It’s not clear how Shanell, at 5-feet-9 and 155 pounds, managed to get stuck. But police say he was in the chimney for nearly six hours. Neighbors finally heard him yelling for help.
He faces less than two years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 5.
Court papers say Shanell has a criminal history that includes convictions for possession of a stolen vehicle and drug violations. Charging documents say he was released from jail on Dec. 25.
Information from: The Seattle Times, www.seattletimes.com
