One of six people charged in connection with a string of burglaries last fall has pleaded guilty.

Neil Buck Jr., 21, pleaded guilty Monday to attempted burglary, a Class Bfelony. That charge was brought for the burglary of Jay's Pawn Shop on Oct. 26.

Buck pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary, accomplice to burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary, all Class Cfelonies. The charges were filed Monday. Buck was charged with burglary for the Oct. 24 break in at the Mandan Community Center, with accomplice to burglary for the Oct. 23 burglary to Tyre Mart and with conspiracy to commit burglary for the Oct. 15 burglary at Tyre Mart.

Buck told South Central District Judge Robert Wefald that he stole a safe from the Mandan Community Center along with several other people. Buck said the money was split four ways, and he received $166.

Buck said he was driving the get-away vehicle while another person burglarized Tyre Mart on Oct. 15 and Oct. 23.

Wefald could sentence Buck to as long as 25 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.

Wayne Goter, Buck's appointed defense attorney, asked Wefald to sentence Buck on the four charges on Tuesday. He said Buck is facing a revocation of probation on criminal mischief and assault convictions in Cass County and has been charged for allegedly writing a bad check in Ward County.

Goter said Buck wanted to get all his cases settled so he could serve his sentences at the state penitentiary.

"I think he's looking at sitting in jail after jail," Goter said.

Morton County Assistant State's Attorney Chris Nyhus requested that a presentence investigation be conducted before Buck is sentenced so that Wefald can have more information on which to base sentencing.

Goter said Buck also needs treatment to deal with an alcohol abuse problem.

"I understand he's used the proceeds (of the burglaries), by and large, to drink,"Goter said.

Buck said he has been accepted into the Teen Challenge program.

"I seriously need help,"he said. "Irealize that."

Wefald ordered that a presentence investigation be held to help him determine an appropriate sentence, including whether to sentence Buck to the Teen Challenge program.

"Before we give you that kind of splendid opportunity, we need to see a presentence investigation," Wefald said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I do think it would be a benefit to have that information."

Five other people have been charged in connection with the October burglaries.

Police responded to an alarm at Jay's Pawn Shop early on Oct. 26 and arrested Buck, Jeremy Will and Olivia Atencio. Buck and Will were charged with attempted burglary and Atencio was charged with accomplice to burglary.

Will, 19, and Atencio, 23, pleaded not guilty to those charges on Monday, and Buck pleaded guilty.

An investigation into the Jay's Pawn Shop burglary lead to evidence suggesting that Buck, Will, Atencio and others may have been involved in several burglaries in Mandan. Buck, Will, Atencio and three other people were charged Monday in connection with the burglaries.

Will was charged with four counts of Class Cfelony burglary for the Mandan Community Center burglary, the two Tyre Mart burglaries and an Oct. 1 burglary at Subway. Atencio was charged with one count of Class Cfelony conspiracy to commit burglary for the Mandan Community Center burglary.

Crystal Buck, 20, was charged Monday with one count of Class C felony conspiracy to commit burglary for her alleged involvement with the Mandan Community Center burglary.

Jamie Schick, 19, was charged with burglary for the Mandan Community Center burglary. Wefald set bond for Schick Tuesday at $5,000 cash or surety. According to an affidavit from Morton County Sheriff Dave Shipman, who investigated the burglaries while a detective at the Mandan Police Department, Schick is a former employee of the Mandan Community Center.

Schick is slated to be sentenced on two counts of Class Cfelony gross sexual imposition on Feb. 9. He also is facing charges in Burleigh County of forgery, a Class C felony, attempted theft of property, a Class C felony, and theft of property, a Class B misdemeanor.

Another man also has been charged in connection with the Oct. 1 Subway burglary. Awarrant has been issued for his arrest.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com)