Hesperia man faces possible prison term for receiving, concealing.

Steven Rice with his attorney, Julie Springstead Waltz.

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

HART — A 19-year-old Hesperia man faces up to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty Monday, May 9, in 27th Circuit Court to receiving and concealing stolen property valued at over $1,000.

Steven Geno Rice, of 4820 E. Loop Rd., also pleaded guilty to second-offense habitual offender, which increases the maximum penalty for his conviction from five years to seven and a half years.

In exchange for his guilty plea, one count of first-degree home invasion and one count of felony firearms were dismissed. His jail time will be capped at 20 months as part of the plea agreement, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. Rice also has a pending probation violation case, which he will likely plead to at the time of his sentencing for the receiving and concealing conviction, which is June 20 at 9 a.m.

Rice testified Monday that on Nov. 30, 2015 in Oceana County, he had possession of a stolen watch.

Co-defendant Korbin Cruz Garcia, 21, of 4820 E. Loop Rd., Hesperia, was sentenced last month to serve eight months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term, with credit for 148 days served, for a the same conviction.