Va. Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Obama Van

A Richmond man accused of stealing a truck containing President Barack Obama's audio equipment pleaded guilty Wednedsay.

Eric Brown's jury trial was canceled and a plea agreement hearing was set for Wednesday in federal court. The 49-year-old Brown faces sentencing April 11 in a plea agreement that calls for a 7-year prison term.

Brown previously pleaded not guilty to theft of government property.

A 2005 Ford van containing podiums and electronic equipment used by the president during public appearances was stolen from a Henrico County hotel parking lot in October 2011. The empty van, owned by the Defense Information Systems Agency, was recovered on the other side of town the next day.

The theft occurred just ahead of Obama's visit to a suburban Richmond fire station to promote his jobs plan.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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