Pocono News Section

"Hunter Burglar" Sentenced in Lackawanna County

"Hunter Burglar" Sentenced in Lackawanna County - Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 6:10PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 @ 06:10pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A judge called him a Òone man crime waveÓ and now he's going to prison. Sual Langan was sentenced Wednesday afternoon in Lackawanna County on series of home break-ins earlier this year.

Prosecutors say Langan broke into at least five homes all over Lackawanna County. Wednesday he learned he's not going to get out of prison anytime soon. The sentencing judge says Langan prayed on innocent people who were easy targets prosecutors say Saul Langan caused fear and outrage across Lackawanna County.

Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to breaking into home after home in community after community from Scott Township to Scranton to Dickson City. Virtually no place was left untouched.

On Wednesday Langan learned he'll spend a total of three to eleven years behind bars for those crimes and one he's currently locked-up for.

Inside the courtroom Langan apologized to his victims. His lawyer says his addiction to heroin fueled all of the break-ins. The judge said that was no excuse. Judge Vito Geruolo said Langan made "his problems everyone else's problems."

Langan was dubbed the "hunter burglar" in Lackawanna County. That's because investigators say he checked out and cased homes by pretending to be a hunter looking for his lost dog.

When no one would answer he would break in. In all police across Lackawanna County say he got away with thousands of dollars in merchandise.

The family of at least one of Langan's victims was in court. They didn't want to go on camera but said the break-in has shattered their sense of security.

The sentencing judge said crimes like the ones Langan committed cannot be tolerated by any society.