A Turlock man will be spending six years in prison for an auto theft conviction.

James Werner Sass, Jr., 29, was convicted on Oct. 15 of attempted auto theft. Sass also admitted to a violation of his probation, stemming from four prior auto theft convictions.

Around 3:30 a.m. on July 20, a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a report of two masked men inside the gated yard of a closed business on Yosemite Boulevard in Waterford. The caller observed the two prowlers jumping over the fence and tampering with the closed business’ equipment.  According to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, when the deputy arrived Sass was inside the gated lot next to the company’s utility truck, which had its doors wide open. When Sass saw the deputy, he tried to run, but was caught a short distance away. Inside the utility truck, the deputy observed extensive damage to the ignition.

Judge Nancy Ashley sentenced Sass to six years in state prison.

Sass’ partner had previously pled guilty and received one and a half years in state prison.