Robert Neese, the man known to law enforcement in Fountain Hills and much of the Northeast Valley as the Rock Burglar, has been sentenced to 22 years and nine months in prison for a burglary spree that lasted decades.

Neese, 60, was sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 7. He pleaded guilty this past May to burglary charges stemming from two Fountain Hills incidents. His long career in burglary came to an end here in Fountain Hills in May 2011.

Neese was snared by a Sheriff’s Office dragnet the night of May 15, 2011 when a resident called 911 after seeing a man hide in the bushes as the Sheriff’s helicopter was flying overhead.

MCSO detectives were investigating a series of burglaries and believe Neese is responsible for as many as 60 break-ins in Fountain Hills.

Officials also believe Neese was responsible for more than 300 burglaries in Paradise Valley, Cave Creek and Scottsdale between 1993 and 2006. At that time he was dubbed the “rock burglar” for simply breaking into residences by tossing a rock through a glass door.

The 60 incidents in Fountain Hills occurred between 2007 and the time of his 2011 arrest.