SEATTLE — A disgraced former Seattle gallery owner has been sentenced to four years in prison for his latest art theft scheme.
Kurt Lidtke previously served a three-year term for selling paintings on consignment to his gallery without paying the owners. While in prison he met up with a burglar named Jerry Christy, and the pair hatched a plan to steal expensive art from Seattle homes once they were released.
Lidkte directed one burglary in late 2009 in which 13 pieces were stolen from a Seattle home, including two paintings by famed Northwest artist Morris Graves, and he planned another burglary.
Seattlepi.com reported that the sentence from U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik on Friday was a year longer than the guideline range. The judge said Lidtke lived a life of privilege and didn’t need to turn to theft.
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