WEST ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
A guilty plea has ended the case of a naked burglary suspect who was accused of terrorizing a West Asheville neighborhood in June 2021.
James Cody Pickard, 38, identified as a suspect after he was caught unclothed on a crime victim’s video doorbell camera, pleaded guilty to dozens of felony charges on Wednesday, May 29, and was sentenced to spend at least seven years in prison, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office reported.
The case created a stir in the summer of 2021, when there were break-ins at several West Asheville homes and one victim’s video doorbell captured the image of an unclothed man later identified as the suspect. That image drew widespread attention and led to warrants for Pickard’s arrest on more than two dozen charges.
According to the DA’s office, on Wednesday in Buncombe County Superior Court, Pickard pleaded guilty to:
- Felony breaking and entering
- Felony first-degree burglary
- Felony attempted first-degree burglary
- Felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle
- Felony larceny
- Felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle
- Felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle
- Misdemeanor simple assault
- Felony attempted common law robbery
- Felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle
- Felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, and other charges.
- A press release said Pickard previously had been convicted of felony breaking and entering in Alamance County.
Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Steve Warran sentenced Pickard to serve 88 to 118 months in prison, the release stated, adding that he has been in custody since Feb. 8, 2023, and has more than 700 days of pretrial jail credit. He also must pay more than $10,000 in restitution and court fees and was ordered to have no contact with victims in the cases, the release stated.
