EPHRATA - A man responsible for three Moses Lake burglaries is serving more than seven years in prison.

Jeffery L. Hughes, 37, transient, pleaded guilty to two counts of residential burglary, theft of a firearm and trafficking in stolen property in the first degree, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

Hughes was originally charged with burglary in the first degree, residential burglary, burglary in the second degree, three counts of theft of a firearm, trafficking in stolen property in the first degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, according to court records. The charges were changed as part of plea agreement.

"To be clear, the defendant was convicted of four separate (class) B felonies," Prosecutor Angus Lee stated. "This insured a sentence range of 77 to 102 months."

Hughes has prior convictions for escape in the second degree, residential burglary, theft of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, burglary in the first degree, forgery in the first degree, possession of suboxone and burglary in the second degree, according to court records.

"Both the state and the defense were free to argue for any sentence inside the range," Lee stated. "We requested the maximum sentence of 102 months in prison, and in light of the defendant's criminal history we were confident that a sentence of 102 months would be imposed."

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline chose to sentence Hughes to seven years and six months in prison, about a year less than the maximum.

The charges stemmed from burglaries at two Marina Drive homes in January. Hughes broke into the homes within two days of each other, according to a Moses Lake police report. Hughes broke a door window in one home, stealing a shotgun, a rifle and a pistol along with jewelry. He broke an office window in another home, taking jewelry. Police found footprints outside of the second residence.

Officers were patrolling the area when they spotted Hughes walking through a manufactured home park on West Broadway Avenue near Marina Drive, according to the police report. When officers stopped him, he said he was staying at a motel, and was walking to a convenience store.

As Hughes was walking away, an officer noticed the footprints matched the ones found near the second burglary, according to the police report. The officer followed the tracks back to the motel, and then to the site of another burglary where Hughes forced open a door on a shop.

When police questioned Hughes about the burglaries, he admitted to them, according to the police report. Police found jewelry and airline tickets taken in the burglaries in Hughes' motel room. Hughes reportedly told police another person sold the guns to John Anderson, 45, of Moses Lake.

When police questioned Anderson, he allegedly said Hughes sold him the guns for a bag of methamphetamine, according to the police report. Police reportedly found two of the guns taken in the robbery, along with four other guns and methamphetamine.

Anderson is still charged with trafficking in stolen property in the first degree, six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree and possession of methamphetamine.