The Antelope Valley Times

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Man gets 40 years for ‘knock-knock’ burglary spree in Palmdale

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LANCASTER – A 24-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in state prison for a monthlong residential burglary spree in Palmdale, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

David Lashley Holmes of Palmdale carried out a series of burglaries last November and December, according to Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Yeh.

Holmes knocked on doors or rang doorbells and, if no one answered, broke in by kicking in doors or shattering windows or glass sliding doors, according to the prosecutor. He then ransacked the homes and stole valuable jewelry, electronics and, in one case, an expensive guitar, Yeh said.

During one burglary, Holmes keyed every panel of a BMW parked in the garage and, during another break-in, poured coffee into a fish tank, killing the fish, the prosecutor said.

Holmes pleaded no contest May 29 to 11 counts of first-degree residential burglary and one count of second-degree commercial burglary.

Holmes also admitted that there was a person present during one of the burglaries and that he had a prior conviction from 2013 for assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

Holmes agreed to pay restitution in connection with all 15 residential burglaries with which he was charged, including four in which counts were dismissed as a result of the plea agreement, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

An Aug. 19 restitution hearing is scheduled at the Lancaster courthouse.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

44 comments for "Man gets 40 years for ‘knock-knock’ burglary spree in Palmdale"

  1. Its crazy how they really gave someone 40 years for robbing people no one got hurt but a damn fish they don’t even give these murderers or rapist that amount of time the antelope valley is a trap…I also know know David personally and its very sad to hear that he was sentenced 40 years being only 24 I will pray for him and for those saying he should’ve got life you guys need help cause even if he robbed people 40 years isnt fair [removed] my father robbed banks before with a gun and got 7 years

  2. As I do understand going to prison for robbing people, I am not so sure why 40 years is a fair sentence. Taking a person’s entire life..are we teaching this man a lesson, or locking him away forever? At 24, does he not get a chance to take the punishment and change his ways. Learn from this? I feel 4-7 would be fair enough. Burr tor take his freedom completely and for the entirety of his life is extreme. I haven’t heard of him hurting anyone…how can a rapist get only 23 in the same town, sentenced by the same judge. Is material damage mire important than a girls innocence, than another’s. Body? How is robbery a bigger punishment than rape, kidnapping, murder…? Is it truly a bigger crime, I believe not. Prison time, yes….the rest of his life….not ok

  3. You all need Christ! Its not an eye for an eye. Who is anyone to judge? a murderer or rapist doesnt even get nearly 40 years..maybe 40 days but come on now. How is locking him up for 40 years gona help him? Hes young

  4. This poor guy was being polite enough not to damage any ones property. Before he robbed them. That’s why he knocked. poor guy.

  5. Eric
    This guy robbed my mom’s neighbors not once, but twice. He took all her years of sentimental belongings and went through her underwear drawer. He stole credit cards and ordered x-rated material and had them delivered to his home. (That was his mistake) And on one particular day, he kicked my mom’s door in and was shocked to see my mom, her husband, and my daughter sitting on the couch in which he flew out as soon as he saw them. Luckily, the burglar escaped my mom’s wrath – she is old but one tough mother. To show you how tough, a guy broke through our window and he attempted to rape my mom. My mom ran to the kitchen, grabbed a HUGE knife and the guy ran for his life. So I would have felt sorry for David Lashley Holmes had he made any attempts to continue with the robbery that day at my mom’s house. To be robbed is a violation of a person’s human rights. It is humiliating to know that someone has gone through your underwear drawer, your personal belongings, and walked off with things that you cherished, only to be sold on the streets. This is cruel and inhumane to do to any human being. No one, including you, deserves to be violated in such a way. I think the sentence is fair and thank God he can’t hurt anyone else for a very long time. Any money put on his books will not go to him. If he works in the cafeteria or outdoors helping with fires, all his money is taken from him and it goes it any restitution funds owed to his victims. People just can’t get away with this stuff anymore. If we don’t nip this stuff in the butt now in our city, it’s going to grow out of control. I wish this young man luck while he serves time in prison and it is my hope that he reaches out to his victims to offer a sincere apology to them. I pray he matures and comes out being a better person. I don’t wish bad upon him at all, I just hope he grows up and becomes a better human being. Hopefully by the time he gets out (He will be about 64), his knees will be shot and he won’t be able to kick in doors anymore.

    • Yes Mary, thanks to our justice system that we have he is behind bars and wont be able to do more harm to innocent people like you Mom for a long time, sorry that she had to go through all that but thankfully nothing worst happened to her.

      • Seriously Mia! Obviously you have never been burglarized. I was 3 times in 12 days Nov 2014. I’ve lived in my home 35 years and this has never happened before. The insurance company provide me SOME money(I have great insurance even so it doesn’t cover all the price of the stolen and ruined items) on items but nothing compared to what their value is. As for the sentimental item’s there is NO $ that can replace those items. As for the fear, the invasion, the loss of sleep and more, there is no money that can replace or repair that. I am a FIRM believer we should pay for our crimes (revamp the sentencing guidelines as sentences are over the top out of control with people being sentenced to too much time), receive HELP while incarcerated, and be welcomed back into society, but for your mentality saying “Grow up… Items are covered. By insurance.” I only wish you the opportunity to experience having your home burglarized and then feel free to write the SAME as you have written here.

      • While items can be covered Via insurance they do not replace personal value or memories, it does not undo the violation of privacy. This is not a good man that went stray, This is a man that is bad, To kick in a door bust a window and damage property for kicks keying a car or killing someones fish, that’s boarder sadistic. He looked at that fish tank and knew he was going to kill them. This man did not stray he stopped looked at his options and went the route of evil and destruction. This man needs jail time and a full physiological exam.

    • Mary.. you have an imagination out of this world. I have my brothers whole case file and before I commented on your unlogical story I went through his file (which includes everything the attorney had) there were no credit cards mentioned.. nor adult videos as you say. How do you know it was my brother David Lashley Holmes?? Well I guess it’s because he’s SUPPOSEDLY the only person robbing people in the Antelope Valley right?? (Even though it wasn’t him) before you start pressing names get your facts straight. Oh and not one time in this case was it mentioned that my brother SUPPOSEDLY kicked in a door while a family was home, that would have been strongly mentioned. I thank you for not wishing bad on him and I’m sorry for your mom’s neighbor and the traumatic incident your mom went through but don’t point fingers in a direction it doesn’t belong.

    • Mary- I had a chance to review evidence, reports, manuscripts and therein, and your piece of comment could not be corroborated… Reading you is like reading a Walt Disney book… It’s simply to easy… You are a simple minded liar and a meatball lost in the sauce

    • Why?

      Other than “if I were dictator this is how it would be” is there any support at all behind your opinion?

      • Dictator? This garbage felon broke into peoples homes, even with people in it and you have a problem with Life? How about using him for medical experiments? That is what I propose. Go ahead and love the violent felons, I want them tied up waiting for the needle or contribution to society by offering their body for experiments.

    • Tony agreed life is fair. And all the others who commit crimes killed rapist should have the same faith or we should allow electric chair better. I would like it for it to be like old times where i can leave my front door open with no worries of getting robbed killed we need to clean up the AV oft rash. I worked hard for what I have and to have a low life come and just break into my home and take it not fair.

    • Tony you are right Life should be fair if he would have gotten less time he would be at it again just time bomb before he hurts kills someone why wait. And the same faith should apply to all the thugs trash Killers rapist in the AV life sentences or D==th. I work hard for what I have and to have someone come take it for free just not fair. We Need to clean up the AV to where we can leave in peace like when I would leave my door open no worries of thiefs or getting killed.

      • If there is a “time bomb” that might be dangerous around here I’d say you are the likely candidate. You cry out for bloodshed even more than Tony does.

      • Thank you Cali Palmdale.
        As you now know criminals are united and they will defend each other til the end, no matter what.
        That is why Timmi is always crying when criminals get what THEY DESERVE!

        • Once again, other than by your “if I were dictator” fantasies, how do you define “deserve” here?

          • I dont have any fantasies of been a “dictator” and FYI my “fantasies” of putting criminals away for good are becoming a reality, while your fantasies of defending criminals at all cost are not and will not become a reality for you.
            So gues what? Im the one that is happy with the outcome,
            sorry 4 u.

          • You’ve given no indication that you have any facts pointing to “this produces a good outcome.” Nothing from any source, even a weak one, to indicate that you have given any thought at all to the relationship between sentencing policies and crime rates. Other than stamping your feet and saying “I want it this way” you offer no reasoning at all as to why doing things your way would be of any benefit at all. Hence you are dictatorial.

            If you actually are getting your way it would likely indicate that we are descending into the mobocracy that Jefferson warned us about. In which people who are totally clueless vote based on whims or the popular misinformation of the moment. Congratulations.

          • Easy, easy, relax!
            Take it easy Tim, I know how frustrated you fell because of all the criminals are treated like [removed] here man, but keep figting, dont give up, maybe in your dreams you will finally see it the way you want it.
            And Im really sorry because when Jefferson “warned” us about it, I wasnt there man, but you know what I live the present not the past, and again, Im very happy about it.
            Well, this is it for today, I need to go to el torito to eat.
            Blessings! !

          • and again, you point nothing to the opposing view either so get off your high horse. I will reiterate, forced medical experiments for this kind of garbage. Give back to society you take advantage of. Tim, you have entirely too much time of your hand, go get a job and perhaps you will understand.

          • I retired…early…specifically so that I could do whatever I choose with my time…so while I appreciate you taking the time to give me advice I am not going to follow it.

          • Lou,
            Timmi is a frustrated criminal defense attorney that as he said “retired early” because he wasnt good enough to win cases.
            So he has to get off his frustration commenting here in fabor of the criminals all the time.

          • LOL…Tony, I am honored to be the target of your endless speculations. If you are ever right…or even close…I promise to let you know. But there isn’t a prize, so you might want to consider a more constructive use of your time.

        • Let us see what we have here Tim, based on all your comments. You hate cops; you are for gun control, that is for law abiding citizens; guns on the streets are O.K.; gang members can point guns at law abiding citizens, most likely shooting them, but maybe not. You see California as a fascist state, but law abiding citizens shouldn’t have guns. You have told us that you are old and fat, and that you retired early so you could do what YOU want. Well Tim, there is so much more you have deemed fit share with us. YOU have the right to be wrong Tim.

          • Was there a point in there somewhere Claire?

            Some corrections:

            I don’t really have any position on gun control. I do find it hilarious when the “armed citizenry” supporters suggest that if only the guy who got carjacked by four assailants, at least two of which had guns in hand, had had a concealed weapon it would have turned out better. Generally speaking gun advocates are totally unrealistic like that, and I think it is important to point that out so we don’t end up with armed dead idiots at the end of unnecessary shootouts.

            I do not see California as a fascist state. I see a few fascist Californians, and point them out. There is no question that an idiot who suggests that no trial executions at the hands of police elevated to judges is supporting the defining core of fascism, so I call such people fascists to their face…or in comments…basically without exception.

            I am, by my standards, old, and fat. I am also retired and far short of the designated “retirement age.” And yes, I do what I want, so when told to “go do something else” and leave this comments section to bullies I will generally refuse…because taking orders from idiots is not in my nature.

  7. And the restitution is collected from any money his family sends in a portion automatically goes towards the restitution and when he gets out the state tax franchise board will still pursue him for it,so it will get paid

    • Thank you Eric. David is my brother and he has confessed and took responsibility for receiving stolen property but he did NOT do the actual burglaries. When a line up is done to possibly identify a suspect they usually put individuals together that somewhat look the same.. skin color hair.. ect the line up was 8 pictures 7 dark skin males and 1 lite skin male. The lite skin male being my brother. “Witnesses” say there was 2 males walking down the block one they couldn’t tell if he was a lite complexion black or hispanic and a dark male the lite one had big earrings in his ear my brothers ears aren’t pierced. There is a lot of loop holes in my brothers case and it’s not fair. My brother kept A’s B’s in school he was attending AV college and working at the time that he SUPPOSEDLY committed these crimes. It’s not fair and it’s injustice. That courthouse is a slave ship full of corruption!!! My brother is NOT the person they are making him out to be. We will get justice!! The fight isn’t over. It’s people like the NEGATIVE idiots above that make innocent people’s lives Hell.

      • I know he is family to you and family loves through all things but to just randomly kill fish tells me there is a sadistic side of him and he needs to be evaluated and rehabilitation, To vandalize a vehicle is a sign of anger issues.

      • @truth so the above mentioned in article…………………………..Holmes also admitted that there was a person present during one of the burglaries. He didn’t admit to that statement?

    • Killing fish, Vandalizing a car all signs of anger issues and a sadistic mind, it was all a matter of time before it could have progressed.

  10. Am i only one who thinks that is excessive 40 years 40 years
    to much he didnt hurt anyone maybe. A year for each that would
    Be 11 years my opinion

    • No, you aren’t the only one. But the prison industry has to be supported somehow, so here we are.

  11. How’s he going to pay the victims restitution if he’s doing 40 years? How much restitution can he pay from any earnings he might get for making license plates in the big house?

    • Of course he’s not gonna be able to pay these people back but 55% of every dime he makes while in prison and 55% of every dime anyone sends into him from outside will go towards restitution. He deserves what he got. 40 years plus he has to serve 80% of it because his crime is considered a serious crime. A person does not have to commit a violent crime to get broke off. When you violate the publics rights to feeling safe inside their own home the judge does the people a nice little favor by locking these people up for as long as possible. I guarantee you this guy knew what could and would happen to him if he were to get caught doing residential burglaries. 11commercial burglaries would have gotten him about three years because a commercial burglary isn’t considered a serious crime.

      • “55% of every dime anyone sends into him from outside will go towards restitution” – why??? So he can only eat just over half a box of ramen?

        40 years for burglary…. This society has lost all sense of proportion…. have fun paying for it, suckas, $60k / year. I guess I will, too.

        Its not like the US is trailing the world in education, the national debt has more zeros than I can type and our infrastructure is crumbling around us. Gotta keep those prison beds filled, and have guards with a GED pull 6 figs.

        • You couldn’t be serious I agree that any crime is uncool; the crime committed does not support a 40 year sentence. You bash America as if you have no other option. News Flash: just incase you haven’t noticed; International Flights are still in service, choose one! When we need a lower rate version of Josef Mengele..we’ll let you know. What are you doing to make a change? What is your contribution? America is powerful…but I won’t get into that type of conversation with a meatball lost in the sauce✋