Kansas man receives prison sentence for theft of bronze Jackie Robinson statue

WICHITA, Kan. — The individual who took a bronze Jackie Robinson sculpture that was severed at the ankles and discovered days later burning in a trash can in a city park in Kansas is set to serve approximately 15 years in prison, although most of that duration is linked to a break-in that occurred shortly after the January sculpture theft.

A judge sentenced Ricky Alderete Friday on three separate cases that he stated in court originated from his dependency on fentanyl.

The League 42 youth baseball organization plans to reveal a substitute sculpture of Robinson molded from the original form on Monday at a park in Wichita, Kansas. The community was surprised when the sculpture was detached from its base in January, leaving only the sculpture’s feet remaining. The organization that mainly caters to underprivileged youth is named after Robinson’s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the team with which he broke the major leagues’ color barrier in 1947.

Firefighters discovered charred remains of the sculpture five days later while responding to a trash can fire at another park approximately 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) away.

Alderete admitted to the theft. He was given an 18-month sentence and instructed to pay $41,500 reimbursement for taking the sculpture. The most severe penalty was for an aggravated burglary on February 1, resulting in a 13.5-year imprisonment term.

“I allowed fentanyl to control me and made numerous unwise choices. I will not deny that. I never intended to harm anyone,” he expressed in court on Friday. “I am mortified, I am embarrassed. Whatever decision you make today, I will accept. I am prepared for that. I believe I am in the right place right now because at the pace I was going, I might have perished.”

Following the theft of the original sculpture, contributions to replace it poured in, including $100,000 from Major League Baseball. Former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia are anticipated to be present at Monday’s unveiling.

The bronze shoes that were abandoned when the original sculpture was stolen are now exhibited at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He is regarded not only as a sports legend but also a civil rights icon. Robinson passed away in 1972.