On January 4, 2026, the Newport Beach Police Department received a report of suspicious activity at a home under construction in the Harbor Ridge neighborhood.
The NBPD’s Drone 1 arrived first and discovered three male suspects inside the home.
Three suspects were found inside the protected property when police arrived soon after.
The people left the property and were safely apprehended without incident.
After an investigation, the suspects were arrested for residential burglary and put into the NBPD Jail.
In the January 4, 2026, event in Newport Beach, the three suspects face harsh penalties under California law for first-degree residential burglary (Penal Code Section 459).
Because the crime involved an “inhabited” dwelling—which, under California law, includes homes currently under construction if they are intended for habitation—the following penalties apply:
Criminal Penalties
- State Prison Sentence: Conviction of first-degree burglary is always a felony, punishable by two, four, or six years in California state prison.
- Fines: Suspects can be fined up to $10,000.
- Mandatory Prison Time: Judges are generally prohibited from granting probation for residential burglary except in “unusual cases” where the interests of justice are served. Most offenders must serve a prison sentence.
- Sentencing Credit Limits: First-degree burglary is often classified as a “serious” or “violent” felony. If victims were present or if specific conditions are met, defendants may be required to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The “Three Strikes” Law
- Strike Offense: Residential burglary counts as a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law.
Future Enhancements:
- Second Strike: If any of these suspects have a prior strike, their sentence for this burglary could be doubled.
- Third Strike: If a suspect has two or more prior strikes, they could face a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life in prison.
Case-Specific Details
- Drone 1 Intervention: The use of the Newport Beach Police Department’s Drone 1 provided real-time surveillance that allowed officers to locate and safely detain the suspects within the secured property.
- Booking: All three male suspects were booked at the Newport Beach Police Department Jail immediately following the investigation.
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