‘Serial’ burglar sentenced to life

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- Lois Jacobs was robbed of her prized wedding ring.

Jeanette and Michael Artenian had their home ransacked twice, losing

irreplaceable jewelry and other one-of-a-kind valuables.

All had been shaken by the theft of their cherished possessions. On

Friday, all three Newport Beach residents patiently waited to confront

the man who had swiped their belongings, their memories and their peace

of mind.

The man they were venting their anger toward was 48-year-old Robert Peter

Vordale.

“He not only stole just my possessions, but a part of me,” Jeanette

Artenian testified. “I am a nervous wreck thinking about who might be in

my house. I want you to feel fear for once.”

Artenian’s wishes were answered when a judge sentenced the defendant to

life in prison for a string of burglaries dating back to 1985. Because he served time for two prior burglary convictions in the 1980s, Vordale’s conviction in November on 13 felony counts made him a “three strikes”

candidate.

Superior Court Judge Everett Dickey denied a defense motion to reduce the

number of strikes -- a move that would have resulted in a maximum 38-year

prison sentence. Instead, Dickey said the defendant knew the

repercussions of his actions and sentenced him to 185 years to life.

“He knows he’s going back to jail if he’s caught,” Dickey said. “Now this

is the time he’ll have to pay for it.”

Newport Beach police caught Vordale in June 1998 while he was hauling

away stolen goods from the Artenians’ home. Police recovered a suitcase

stolen from the house that contained jewelry and silverware -- items that

belonged to the Artenians.

Jeanette Artenian, as she addressed the court, claimed Vordale had taken

a diamond anniversary ring, a set of commemorative Rose Bowl watches

belonging to her husband and a sapphire bracelet given to her by her son,

who was later killed in an auto accident. None of the items have been

found.

“My wife has anxiety attacks because of this,” said Michael Artenian, who

was a member of the 1952-53 USC football team. He lost the two watches

given to him for participating in the Rose Bowl game.

“It’s sad that anyone has to be punished that severe, but he knew what

the results could be. Yet he persisted,” he said.

Police said Vordale was responsible for a string of Newport Beach

burglaries over a 13-month span, from May 1997 to June 1998. When he was

arrested outside the Artenians’ home, they learned Vordale was driving a

stolen 1996 Land Rover. Police found more stolen property as well as

Vordale’s driver’s license and passport inside the vehicle.

Vordale grew up in Newport Beach and knew the area well. He attended

Newport Harbor High School and was convicted twice in the 1980s for a

series of burglaries in the Spyglass Hill neighborhood.

According to his probation report, Vordale admitted he had a gambling

problem, which may have prompted his crime spree. Now he must pay more

than $170,000 in restitution to a long list of victims.

Jacobs said she decided to attend the court hearing because it was her

only opportunity to tell Vordale how she felt. Since her husband died

nine months before she was burglarized, she said she is frightened by any

noise she hears in her home.

Her grandmother’s silver tea set, her wedding ring and her

mother-in-law’s wedding band were taken from her home. She asked Vordale

if she would ever see those valuables again.

“They are part of my family,” she said. “These items have more than

monetary value. They can never be replaced.”