A Jefferson County district judge sentenced a man to three years in prison Friday for grave robbing in 2023.

John Belknap, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison, plus time served, after pleading guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, criminal mischief and carrying a concealed weapon in November, according to a social media post from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a call at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 11 regarding the destruction of a private mausoleum.

The suspect hadbroken into the crypt and forcefully opened a casket inside. Portions of the body in the casket were missing, which contained the remains of a person who died in 1919.

While there were three crypts in the mausoleum, only one was disturbed, according to police. Investigators said there didn’t seem to be a direct relationship between Belknap and the deceased body.

After finding evidence at the scene, investigators were able to tie the crime to Belknap and eventually arrested him on Oct. 24, 2023.

The victim’s remains were returned to the cemetery and restored to their crypt “with the dignity they deserve,” police said.

“This unthinkable crime left our community in shock, but it also set into motion a commitment to justice,” the sheriff’s office continued. “Justice served. Closure achieved.”