James Arner Given Probation For Stealing TV’s From Hotel

A Natrona County man will avoid prison time after admitting he took part in a burglary scheme at a Casper hotel.

Thirty-five year old James Arner was given a four-to-six year suspended prison sentence, with three years of probation, after he pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary.

Investigators with the Casper Police Department say in May 2014, there was an organized overnight burglary of nine new televisions, from the Holiday Inn on East Second Street.

The burglars entered through an office window that wasn’t locked, while an accomplice distracted the front desk employee, in order to prevent them from seeing the security cameras.

Investigators got a lead when they found someone trying to sell the TVs on Facebook.

Arner was eventually linked to the caper, because he was a former employee of the hotel, and management knew that he had a distinctive walk, which was noted in the surveillance video, the night of the burglary.

When interviewed by police, Arner admitted the plan was his idea, because he knew where the TVs were.

The hotel was in the process of replacing the TVs in all the rooms, with new ones.

A number of co-defendants connected to this case, have also pleaded guilty to various charges.