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Man found on school campus with knife convicted of burglary, weapon offense
Hotchkiss
Jason Lyle Hotchkiss

A Turlock man that was found sleeping on a school campus with a hunting knife in 2013 was convicted in Stanislaus County Superior Court on Feb. 23 of multiple charges, including burglary.

Jason Lyle Hotchkiss, 41 of Turlock, was convicted of residential burglary and possession of a dirk or dagger. Hotchkiss also admitted having been previously convicted of residential burglary, a felony which falls under California’s “Three Strikes” law.

On the night of Oct. 2, 2013, Hotchkiss entered a garage and stole a tool box and hunting knife. The following morning he was found asleep on the grass near the track at Julien Elementary School. He was discovered right around the time school was starting and children were headed to their classrooms.

The school is approximately two blocks from the scene of the burglary.

School officials contacted the Turlock Police Department and the school resource officer assigned to Turlock High School, Officer Neil Raumann, arrived quickly to the scene. Additional officers responded to the school as well.

Hotchkiss was on parole and was subject to a search. They found him in possession of the toolbox, which was linked back to the burglary. They also found the hunting knife hidden under his shirt, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

At the time of his arrest, Hotchkiss was on probation for prior convictions of resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. He also was on parole for petty theft, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

Hotchkiss is set for sentencing on Monday. He is facing a possible maximum sentence of 14 years and four months in state prison.