A man with a history of burglaries in Southern California has been found guilty once again, this time facing the possibility of life in prison due to the state's three-strikes law. Matthew Rey Scott, a 40-year-old transient, was convicted of two felony counts of first-degree residential burglary and one misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer, according to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Wearing a state parole ankle monitor, Scott was captured for committing the two residential burglaries. He previously had convictions for similar crimes dating back to 2007 and 2015, making his recent guilty verdict subject him to California’s stringent laws against repeat offenders. Having admitted to several special allegations regarding his past convictions, Scott's most recent offenses may well result in a life sentence. On December 12, 2024, he was spotted by a female resident in her Simi Valley home, standing in her hallway while she was on the phone, as reported by KTLA.
The woman confronted Scott, who subsequently fled without taking any property. Senior Deputy District Attorney Craig Gardner highlighted the importance of community cooperation in such cases, stating, "We extend our sincere appreciation to the witnesses who came forward to testify—not only in this case, but also in the three prior incidents dating back to 2007." Gardner told the district attorney's news release, "Their courage and willingness to participate were vital to securing justice and promoting the safety of our community."
Following the incident, Simi Valley police officers found Scott a mere three streets away from the second burglary location, where he entered through the garage of a home where a young family lived. Captured by home surveillance cameras entering the garage and backyard area, police linked him to the crimes through the state parole ankle monitor he wore. Scott's sentencing hearing, which was unknown at the time, will decide the remaining special allegations, as mentioned in KTLA's article.
