Chester Vaxter III

Chester Vaxter III's tattoos are what police say helped them identify him in an attempted burglary case.

(Courtesy Photo)

An Easton man whose tattooed face helped police track him down following an attempted break in was sentenced to probation Friday morning.

President Judge Stephen Baratta wasn't wearing his glasses, but he knew what case he was dealing with when Chester Vaxter III stepped up for sentencing.

"You look like you're a leopard," Baratta said before asking defense attorney Ed Andres to describe the writing and symbols etched across Vaxter's face.

Easton police responded to the 1200 block of Bushkill Street Aug. 21 after receiving a report that a man was standing on a milk crate and pounding on a window, according to court documents. The suspect fled when police arrived, but authorities identified him as Vaxter because of the tattoos.

In November, the 21-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted criminal trespassing. In return, prosecutors agreed to withdraw a charge of attempted burglary.

Vaxter has a history of assaults from his juvenile record, Baratta said, and a psychological evaluation raised concerns about his mental health. He has a borderline low intelligence level, and court officials recommended he undergo a psychiatric evaluation, Baratta said.

"Quite frankly, he's someone who could probably go be enrolled in the mental health court," Baratta said, referring to the county's new specialty court that prioritizes mental health treatment over punishment.

Vaxter has never held a job and did not advance past his freshman year of high school, Baratta said. The tattoos, the judge feared, would prevent him from getting even entry-level positions. Andres confirmed Vaxter has been rejected for positions at Arby's, Burger King, KFC and The Express-Times, among others.

Between the facts of the case and Vaxter's mental health problems, Baratta sentenced Vaxter to two years of probation. He ordered Vaxter to get his GED and to look for employment.

"Thank you so much," Vaxter said.

"I'm going to thank you if you stay out of trouble," Baratta said.