Oscar Ogdulio Rodriguez-Cardenas, aged 28, has been sentenced to one year in jail following a guilty plea for burglarizing a Bay View residence. The incident occurred on August 21, 2024, when Rodriguez-Cardenas removed an air-conditioning unit from a window to gain entry into the house located in the 9000 block of Chesapeake Boulevard. He subsequently stole a watch from the premises.
The homeowner was alerted by his doorbell camera system and notified Norfolk Police of Rodriguez-Cardenas’ actions. Upon arrival, officers discovered that he had already fled the scene, leaving behind the air-conditioning unit and an open window. Using footage from the doorbell camera, police circulated Rodriguez-Cardenas’ description to nearby patrols. Shortly after, an officer identified him in the vicinity; however, Rodriguez-Cardenas attempted to escape after discarding the stolen watch but was apprehended.
On May 29, Rodriguez-Cardenas agreed to plead guilty to felony burglary with conditions including serving one year in jail and having four additional years suspended provided he maintains good behavior during custody and for five years post-release. Additionally, he is required to complete up to two years of supervised probation and have no contact with the victim. As part of this agreement, a misdemeanor larceny charge against him was dismissed by the Commonwealth.
Judge Jennifer L. Fuschetti accepted this plea agreement despite it being above Virginia’s sentencing guidelines which recommended probation without active incarceration. Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi stated: “Breaking into someone’s house is one of the most serious things one can do short of hurting them physically… For that reason… we sought and secured a sentence of confinement against Mr. Rodriguez-Cardenas.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Tara Sue Terwilliger while Norfolk Police Detective Kevin M. Rose led the investigation.
