Orem ransacking leader pleads guilty

PROVO — From the time of his arrest, Jacob Falo has been open with police and prosecutors about his involvement in ransacking an Orem home and holding the occupants hostage — a fact his attorney hopes will positively influence the judge when the 19-year-old is sentenced next month.

Falo pleaded guilty Monday to four first-degree felonies, including aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping and a second-degree felony of burglary.

Prosecutor Jason Sant said it was Falo who "concocted" and carried out a plan that he and three others would visit a home at 1000 E. 800 North in Orem on Oct. 9, take the five occupants hostage, then "ransack" the home for items to steal.

"For approximately 20 to 30 minutes they … kept all the individuals in the house in a circle in the living room while one kept guard and the others ransacked," Sant said. They used a gun and a bat, frequently hitting the individuals, police said.

With Falo's guilty pleas, prosecutors dismissed seven other charges, agreed to recommend concurrent sentencing and recommended no gang enhancement.

"He was up front and admitted to it when he was picked up," defense attorney Filia Uipi said after the hearing. "We get as much as we can under the circumstances."

Uipi said he also hopes that along with Falo's cooperation, his age will be considered as a mitigating factor when he is sentenced July 27. First degree felonies carry the potential of life in prison.

Falo's criminal history includes a sentence in May 2007 to a year in jail for a different aggravated robbery charge. He was wanted on a warrant for failing to comply with probation when he committed the new crime.

The group of individuals — who were located after the attack at a different apartment and only surrendered after a SWAT team surrounded the home — included Falo's younger brother, James, 18, who is facing similar charges. He will be in court again June 22.

"It has been hard," Uipi said when asked how the family is dealing with having two sons in jail, facing prison time. "They are very young boys."

Jacob Falo's girlfriend, Berniece Halalilo, 19, was the getaway driver and was recently sentenced to 36 months of probation and $15,200 in restitution for her lesser role in the crime. She was also sentenced to 144 days in jail but given credit for the 144 she had already served. The restitution will be divided among all the defendants, Halalilo's attorney said.

The fourth defendant is a juvenile.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com