Burglar with 23 felonies could get less than four years in prison

Amanda Tucker was a drug addict with a clear, calculated pattern of victimizing the elderly, police say.

Two of her victims were 90 and 94, both suffering from dementia. As they stood by in their residence last fall, Tucker stole their financial instruments and a pair of earrings. Earlier at the Mirabella Retirement Community in Seattle, she walked into the room where an 87-year-old man was being cared for by his daughter.

Tucker claimed she was looking for her grandmother's apartment, but left with the man's credit cards.

Her crime spree led to 23 felony counts, and Tucker pleaded guilty on Jan. 23. But because Tucker is eligible for a drug offender sentencing alternative she could face only 36.75 months in jail, which could also be reduced by good behavior.

King County Superior Court Judge Michael C. Hayden will decide Friday afternoon if she'll get that penalty or the maximum seven years in prison that police and prosecutors are hoping for.

"The defendant's actions are not the actions of a drug addict who acts on impulse to feed her drug habit," Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mafé Rajul wrote in a sentencing memo. "Instead, her criminal actions are those of someone who carefully thinks about the best possible target, in this case, the elderly."

Tucker, a 27-year-old who came here from Alabama, was first arrested by Seattle police on Aug. 29 in a car stolen from Mirabella. Detective Steve Owings realized Tucker had a pattern of burglarizing seniors' apartments, often when they were home and vulnerable.

She repeatedly told victims she was trying to visit her grandmother and was in the wrong apartment. In at least one case, Tucker claimed she was in a victim's apartment to check a bathroom alarm.

When she was arrested, Tucker was wearing the earrings she'd stolen from the dementia patient in her 90s.

"She stole countless treasures and keepsakes," Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said, "while presenting herself in a way that was duplicitous and malevolent."

When Tucker was arraigned for residential burglary and other charges Sept. 15, prosecutors tried to have Tucker's bail increased to $75,000. But a judge denied that and Tucker was released after posting $10,000 bond on the condition she not commit any new crimes.

But the threat of additional jail time didn't stop Tucker's burglary spree.

After posting bond, she continued to steal cars, burglarized another retirement home and other residences, and used at least one victim's identity. Tucker's crime spree spanned four cities: Seattle, Federal Way, Renton and SeaTac.

During her spree, Tucker changed her hair color and appearance, even using a victim's credit card to buy blonde hair dye.

Federal Way police caught up to her on Nov. 18, arresting her for a burglary at the Emeritus Senior Living facility and cocaine possession.

The state's drug offender sentencing alternative was designed to stop recidivism by getting drug-addicted criminal into chemical dependency treatment. If requirements are met, it's up to a judge to determine whether the offender and the community will benefit from an alternative sentence.

Rajul is asking Judge Hayden impose the maximum sentence: 84 months in prison followed by 12 months of supervised release while Tucker completes substance abuse treatment.

Prosecutors and police say there's no doubt Tucker is a drug addict, but not someone who should have her sentence reduced by the sentencing alternative. If Tucker gets the special sentence, she would be sentenced to half of the mid-point of the standard range, which would be less than four years. An additional 36.75-month penalty would be enforced if she was convicted of another crime.

"The defendant was methodical in deciding who to victimize, and how to do it," Rajul wrote the court. "She should be held accountable for her despicable actions."

How Tucker's held accountable is up to Judge Hayden at 1 p.m. Friday.

For more Seattle police and crime news visit the front page of the Seattle 911 blog.

Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.

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Burglar with 23 felonies could get less than four years in prison