APD: Habitual Criminal Taken Off the Streets
By: APD News Release
Updated: July 31, 2012
ABILENE, TX - A criminal investigation headed up by detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Crimes Against Property Unit, resulted in the clearance of 14 residential burglaries. Those crimes were recently adjudicated and a key defendant, that could have seen a prison term of five-years to life, remains off of Abilene's streets.
The burglaries occurred in the summer of 2011 and involved the theft of jewelry, firearms and other property from the homes of residents in our community. Detective Justin Gates took lead investigative duties on these cases. He was joined by his colleagues, including members of the Responsive Intelligence Division, as they began the leg work in solving these felonies. He knew that the burglaries were occurring throughout various neighborhoods in Abilene. Solving these felonies as quickly as possible was of the highest priority. A person of interest named Steven Lambert was identified during the investigation.
On August 1, 2011, Det. Gates contacted Steven Arnold Lambert (DOB: 03/29/65) at a local pawn shop while he was attempting to pawn some jewelry that was valued at approximately $2,400.00. Det. Gates was already aware that Mr. Lambert had an outstanding parole warrant. He was arrested and the jewelry he was attempting to pawn was seized. Mr. Lambert was then taken to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. He was subsequently arrested on his warrant and charged with five burglaries of habitations. The investigation revealed that the jewelry he was trying to pawn was stolen from a residence earlier that morning.
The investigations linked Mr. Lambert to 14 residential burglaries and one theft of a firearm from a vehicle. The state's case against Mr. Lambert, adjudicated through the Taylor County District Attorney's (DA) office, resulted in a plea bargain agreement on July 20, 2012. That agreement netted Mr. Lambert a 30-year prison sentence for convictions on two of the five burglary cases filed by the DA's office.
This media release highlights the level of excellence by detectives and the prosecutor. Their diligence helped remove a habitual criminal from our neighborhoods. Mr. Lambert has remained incarcerated since Det. Gates made the arrest on August 1, 2011. It also reminds our community that the resultant level of justice made our community safer and hopefully sends a message that crime does not pay.
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The burglaries occurred in the summer of 2011 and involved the theft of jewelry, firearms and other property from the homes of residents in our community. Detective Justin Gates took lead investigative duties on these cases. He was joined by his colleagues, including members of the Responsive Intelligence Division, as they began the leg work in solving these felonies. He knew that the burglaries were occurring throughout various neighborhoods in Abilene. Solving these felonies as quickly as possible was of the highest priority. A person of interest named Steven Lambert was identified during the investigation.
On August 1, 2011, Det. Gates contacted Steven Arnold Lambert (DOB: 03/29/65) at a local pawn shop while he was attempting to pawn some jewelry that was valued at approximately $2,400.00. Det. Gates was already aware that Mr. Lambert had an outstanding parole warrant. He was arrested and the jewelry he was attempting to pawn was seized. Mr. Lambert was then taken to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. He was subsequently arrested on his warrant and charged with five burglaries of habitations. The investigation revealed that the jewelry he was trying to pawn was stolen from a residence earlier that morning.
The investigations linked Mr. Lambert to 14 residential burglaries and one theft of a firearm from a vehicle. The state's case against Mr. Lambert, adjudicated through the Taylor County District Attorney's (DA) office, resulted in a plea bargain agreement on July 20, 2012. That agreement netted Mr. Lambert a 30-year prison sentence for convictions on two of the five burglary cases filed by the DA's office.
This media release highlights the level of excellence by detectives and the prosecutor. Their diligence helped remove a habitual criminal from our neighborhoods. Mr. Lambert has remained incarcerated since Det. Gates made the arrest on August 1, 2011. It also reminds our community that the resultant level of justice made our community safer and hopefully sends a message that crime does not pay.
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