A Twentynine Palms man was arrested earlier this month and pleaded guilty last week to identity theft and elder abuse. Alexander Burke, 27, identified by his booking record as a gardener, gained access to the Social Security account and several savings accounts of a resident in the 500 block of Tahoe Avenue in Landers between August and October 2017. Burke attempted to transfer money out of the accounts into his personal account; the resident notified the Sheriff’s Department of the thefts on November 1. Burke was arrested January 17 and pleaded guilty January 24 to five charges of identity theft, and to one count of theft from an elderly person from earlier in 2017. Judge Bert Swift sentenced Alexander Burke to 90 days in county jail, with credit for eight days served, and three years of probation. A restitution hearing is set for May 11.
