James Musser

A man pleaded guilty to seven cases against him in Butler County Court on Tuesday, including those involving burglary and theft of a medical bag from an ambulance.

James L. Musser III, 36, entered pleas to charges of felony burglary, criminal trespass, theft, misdemeanor retail theft, receiving stolen property and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle in seven cases before county Judge Timothy McCune on Tuesday.

The plea agreements call for a total of 18 to 48 months in prison, which can be served in the Butler County Prison, with immediate parole after completion of the six-month reintegration program, as well as restitution, fines and costs.

The first case involved a misdemeanor charge of theft from a motor vehicle, to which he pleaded guilty, after an incident on Sept. 11, 2016, when authorities say he stole $25 in change, cigarettes and a cell phone from a pizza delivery man's car on North Main Street.

The second case involved a misdemeanor charge of theft from a motor vehicle, after police said he stole a medical bag valued at $3,500 from a Butler Ambulance Services ambulance on Sept. 19, 2016.

In that incident, police said Butler Ambulance Service employees discovered the bag missing, containing an oxygen tank, intubation kit and other supplies routinely used by paramedics, after returning from a call in the 200 block of West North Street.

Security cameras on the ambulance captured the crime on video, according to court documents, which showed a man opening the rear door and stealing the bag.

Officers later that evening, while in the 300 block of West North Street, noticed a man, later identified as Musser, who matched the description of the thief caught on video.

Police spoke to Musser, who initially denied taking the bag. But when informed of what was on the security footage, documents said, he confessed.

He then pleaded guilty to misdemeanor retail theft after an incident on Sept. 26, 2016, when he was accused of stealing a candy bar from the A-plus store in Butler.

In the fourth case, he pleaded to misdemeanor receiving stolen property after being charged on Oct. 20, 2016. Authorities say he stole jewelry from a home in the 500 block of Bredin Street and later sold the items for $125.

Authorities recovered some of the stolen jewelry. Other pieces, however, were scrapped before police completed their investigation.

He also pleaded guilty to felony criminal trespass in a case charged on Oct. 22, 2016, where authorities say he entered the rear door of an apartment in the 800 block of East Jefferson Street.

The victim told police that he was home watching television when he noticed the unknown burglar in his home. He later identified Musser from a police photo lineup, according to court documents.

In the sixth case, he pleaded guilty to felony theft in an incident on Nov. 1, 2016, at the Butler Beauty School on South Main Street.

Police said Musser stole a student's purse that was in a second-floor office, according to court documents.

The victim told police the purse contained about $5,000 in currency, a cell phone and other items.

The final case included a plea to felony burglary after Musser was charged in an incident on Nov. 4, 2016, where authorities say he entered a property on West Penn Street and made off with $7,000 worth of jewelry and other property.

One of the occupants found the burglar in her home. The unknown man, later identified as Musser, ran out the back door. Musser was later arrested walking down the street, and in his pocket was three syringes, a crack pipe and other drug contraband, police said.

He was also carrying a duffel bag containing some of the stolen loot, police said.

Musser's attorney, Public Defender Charles Nedz, requested sentencing as soon as possible so that Musser can begin the reintegration program.

Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 31.

Musser continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on a total of $202,800 bail in all cases.