In St. Albans, Vermont, three men have pleaded guilty to stealing an Xbox 360 and more than a dozen games from a teen battling cancer.
According to police, the men knew that cancer patient Jeffrey Cota would be away from his home and undergoing surgery in Boston. That’s when they made their move, stealing the 360 and games from Cota’s bedroom.
18-year-olds Tyler Wimble and Jordan Bristol each pleaded guilty to a felony charge of burglary. Brendan Eary, 20, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of accessory after the fact, reported local WPTZ.
During the plea hearings, Jeffrey Cota was in the hospital undergoing treatment for bone cancer.
Cota said he didn’t know the three men and hasn’t heard from them. He’s glad they pleaded guilty so he can put this behind him.
Fortunately, the community stepped up for Cota. One man donated an Xbox 360, a local radio station raised money, and he’s been receiving gift cards and letters from people who don‘t even know him.
“But the community did a lot. I thank them for that, they did a lot,” Cota said.
“When I heard about what these people were doing, raising money, and the guy that donated the Xbox, it just kind of brought my spirits up and it helped out a lot,” he said.
With one final treatment left for cancer, Cota is looking forward to going back to work and playing basketball again.
