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District Court Judge Ed McLean sentenced Erik Robert Hunt on Wednesday to 15 years in the state prison for squatting in the home of a military service member deployed to Iraq, for stealing and selling his belongings, and for then going on a crime spree while awaiting trial on the initial charges.

In court, Hunt, 39, said, "I was not out to harm a man that served our country."

Rather, he said he and his girlfriend were homeless and looking for a place "to get warm." But, he acknowledged, he ended up staying in the residence for two or three weeks, during which time he barricaded the front door and sold some of the man's belongings, including televisions and tools.

While prosecutors initially agreed to a plea deal that would have sent Hunt to prison for five years, with another five suspended, 22 days after his release from jail he stole a truck as well as items from Kmart, Walmart and Universal Athletic and was in possession of methamphetamine.

That led prosecutors to revoke their initial plea deal for burglary, and it led to additional charges of burglary, theft and possession of dangerous drugs.