Man pleads guilty to stealing Ripken monument

BALTIMORE (AP) One of four young men accused of stealing a monument to Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken has pleaded guilty to theft.

Baltimore prosecutors say 19-year-old Jason Stoneburner of Essex received a two-year suspended jail term Wednesday and was ordered to pay restitution to the Orioles. If he completes all the terms of his sentence, the conviction could be turned into probation before judgment, effectively wiping it off his record.

Three other defendants have opted for jury trials, which are scheduled to begin Friday.

Police say the men ripped the 3 1/2-foot aluminum No. 8 from its base outside Camden Yards on Sept. 9, then threw it into the back of a pickup truck. They were arrested about two hours later.

Updated November 4, 2009