A Santa Fe man police have called a "serial burglar" was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after being caught burglarizing a house in Eldorado this summer.

Joaquin Perea, 29, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to property, larceny and fraudulent use of a credit card in connection with two separate cases. He faced a maximum of 10 years, though a plea deal called for five years of the sentence to be suspended.

"This has to be your last go-in," state District Court Judge Michael Vigil told Perea.

Online court records indicate Perea has a long history of burglary and drugs.

The latest incident occurred in June, when the housesitter at a home in Eldorado caught Perea and Jessica Ortiz, 21, inside the home with jewelry in their hands, police have said. The couple was arrested after the housesitter obtained their license plate number and a deputy caught them returning to Santa Fe on Interstate 25. Jewelry and jewelry boxes were found in the car.

At the time, Perea already been indicted on auto burglary, larceny and two counts of credit card fraud for an incident that occurred Feb. 25 in La Cienega.

He was sentenced Monday in both those cases. Charges against Ortiz are still pending, according to online court records. Perea also was charged with possession of heroin in August when deputies at the Santa Fe County jail found the drug on him.

Vigil warned Perea that if he racks up another felony charge, he will be eligible for an additional eight years behind bars thanks to state habitual offender laws.

"I know your life has not been an easy one," the judge said. "But when you get out you'll still have time to make a life out here. You might even want to move away from Santa Fe."

Perea will spend five years on probation after serving his sentence.

After handing down the sentence, Vigil married Perea and Corrine Martinez, his co-defendant in the credit card case, in the middle of the courtroom. Vigil allowed Perea's left hand to be uncuffed so he could place the ring on his bride's finger.

Vigil said he married Perea's parents in a ceremony many years ago.

Contact Jason Auslander at 986-3076 or :jauslander@sfnewmexican.com.