Two of the three people accused of stealing paintings from a van that belonged to the Sense Fine Art Gallery in unincorporated Menlo Park are in jail and have cooperated with authorities.
Deanna Joao, 47, of South San Francisco pleaded no contest on March 6 to charges that included second-degree burglary. As part of a plea bargain, she faces a possible three-year prison term, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office.
Jeffrey Harp, 33, of San Francisco pleaded no contest to possession of stolen property and was sentenced to 16 months in prison. With credit for time served, he may spend 12 months in prison.
Police are searching for a third suspect, Derek Hanson, 45, of South San Francisco, who failed to show up for a court appearance.
In the November 23 theft, paintings valued at $75,000 to $100,000 were inside a locked van parked on a San Francisco street. The van was stolen with the paintings inside.
When word spread in the following week that someone was seeking appraisals of paintings matching the description of those that were stolen, sheriffs from San Mateo County set up a series of sting operations that eventually netted the three suspects.
— Bay City News
