Man in university thefts: I lived a secret life

In the last year, Joshua Alan Lafferty has gone from upholding a false facade of his life for his parents’ sake to telling them some of his deepest secrets.

“For a long time, I think they have not really known who I am,” Lafferty said Wednesday in Albemarle County Circuit Court.

The Lafferty that his family knew had a job and housing. In reality, Lafferty was living out of his car and stealing electronics and credit cards from buildings at the University of Virginia.

Lafferty, 26, was supposed to be sentenced Wednesday on the theft-related charges. However, Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins continued his sentencing to July, ruling that if he uses his time wisely in jail that she would consider ordering him into the state’s Detention and Diversion programs. If he doesn’t behave, Lafferty could face prison.

Defense attorney Lacey Parker said in court that Lafferty has been accepted into the 20-week-long programs. Both Parker and the prosecutor said the programs would be beneficial for Lafferty.

The judge ruled that she didn’t find the nine months of jail time that Lafferty has already served an appropriate sentence before entering the state programs, but she also said in court that she weighed Lafferty’s need for rehabilitation before she continued his sentencing.

Lafferty pleaded guilty in June to five counts of breaking and entering, five counts of grand larceny, four counts of credit card theft and one count each of credit card fraud and petit larceny.

When asked why he committed the crimes, Lafferty testified that he believed his choices once he became homeless were to go to his family or embark on criminal activity.

“I was very much relieved at the conclusion,” said Lafferty, who said he felt frightened, excited and sometimes guilty when he broke into offices.

While in jail, Lafferty testified, he has exchanged letters with his family and talked to them on the phone. A group of them sat in the audience Wednesday.