Peabody man receives prison time for burglary

SALEM – A Peabody felon, who admitted burglarizing a home on Lowell Street and stealing cash, jewelry and other memorabilia items, may spend up to six years in state prison.Richard S. Belyea, a 38-year-old carpet installer, of 78A Lowell St., Peabody, made his plea Tuesday afternoon in Salem Superior Court. He confessed before Judge David A. Lowy to charges of breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony, larceny of property over $250, buying and receiving stolen property more than $250 and malicious destruction of property over $250.Belyea was sentenced to serve not less than five years and not more than six years in state prison by Lowy.The charges arise out of an incident on the afternoon of May 2, when Belyea entered a condominium unit at 314 Lowell St., in Peabody, by forcing open a rear window while a young female resident was home.The occupant told authorities she was upstairs in her bedroom when she heard a window shatter and then someone walking around the house. She immediately called police and, while on the phone, she saw a man carrying a Harley Davidson pillow case leaving the premises and walking down Lowell Street.The pillow case had been taken from her parents’ bedroom, according to reports.Police arriving at the scene learned that a coin jar containing $100 worth of dimes and other loose change was stolen along with a jewelry box containing $1,500 in cash and jewelry along and other personal papers.Belyea was arrested a short time later by police.Detective Joseph Gilroy and Patrolman Daniel Murphy spearheaded the investigation and arrest.Lowy also found Belyea was in violation of his probationary terms involving two cases from 2006. Lowy sentenced him to a five-year prison term on one of the cases and another four to five years for the other. Those terms will run simultaneously, with the five- to six-year prison term imposed for the Peabody housebreak.The judge credited Belyea 149 days towards his term of incarceration.