Man Sentenced for Stealing Robinson Statue

Ricky Alderete was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue, although most of the sentence is related to a separate burglary. The statue, which honored Robinson's historic role in breaking Major League Baseball's racial barrier, was cut from its base and found burned in a trash can. Alderete, who attributed his actions to a fentanyl addiction, was ordered to pay $41,500 in restitution to League 42, the youth baseball league that owned the statue. The community, with significant donations including $100,000 from Major League Baseball, raised nearly $200,000 to replace the statue. A new statue, crafted from the original mold, will be unveiled at McAdams Park with attendance from MLB representatives and former players. The replacement effort has bolstered League 42’s mission to serve low-income youth, underscoring the statue's symbolic importance.