Ottawa Man Given Probation after Burglary Plea

An Ottawa man won’t be heading to prison despite pleading guilty to a July theft.

Joseph Bernico was charged with residential burglary after Ottawa police arrested him for allegedly climbing into a house through a window where he stole pills. Police reported finding pills that didn’t belong to 27-year old on him when he was arrested.

He pled guilty Thursday morning to the charge, which could have carried with it a sentence ranging from 4 to 15 years. As part of the plea deal, Bernico was only sentenced to 48 months of TASK probation.

He was also given credit for the time he had already served in the LaSalle County Jail.