Ricky Alderete, a 45-year-old man from Wichita, Kansas, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing a Jackie Robinson statue from a youth baseball league. This incident, which occurred on January 25, led to national headlines and a lengthy legal process. In addition to theft, Alderete faced other charges, including aggravated burglary on February 1.
It was reported by The Wichita Eagle that most of Alderete’s prison sentence was related to the aggravated burglary case. At the time of the statue’s disappearance, he was already on probation for another offense. As part of his sentencing, Alderete was also given an additional 18 months for the theft of the statue and ordered to pay $41,500 in restitution to League 42, the local baseball league that the statue belonged to.
League 42, founded in 2013 to provide baseball opportunities for urban children in Wichita, was devastated by the theft of the statue. The league, named after Jackie Robinson’s jersey number, received an outpouring of support from the community, with over $700,000 in donations coming in, including a contribution from Major League Baseball.
After the stolen statue was discovered burned in a trash can at a different park, authorities revealed that Alderete’s motive was to sell the statue for scrap metal. Despite the loss of the original statue, League 42 is moving forward and plans to unveil a replacement Robinson statue later this month.
The destruction of the Jackie Robinson statue sparked a wave of solidarity and support for League 42 in Wichita. The community rallied around the baseball league, demonstrating the enduring legacy of Robinson and the importance of providing opportunities for children to play sports. This incident serves as a reminder of the impact that individuals like Robinson have had on breaking down barriers and inspiring future generations.