By TARA JENNINGSLedger Staff Writertara@gaffneyledger.com

A Gaffney man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for stealing a motorcycle worth less than $1,000.

It was his third burglary conviction in three years.

Edward Lee Pennington, 22, of 228 Ross St., was taken to Kirkland Correctional Facility after he was found guilty Tuesday of 1st-degree burglary following a 2-day trial in General Sessions Court.

Circuit Court Judge J. Derham Cole was the presiding judge on all three of Pennington’s convictions.

The jury determined Pennington stole a motorcycle from an outbuilding on Cherokee Avenue on Sept. 20, 2004. The next day a Cherokee County Metro Narcotics Agent spotted Pennington’s codefendant, 18-year-old Thomas Michael Smith, riding the bike near Leadmine and Hetty Hill streets, according to testimony.

Deputies arrested Pennington and Smith on Sept. 22, 2004. Smith’s case is pending.

Police were able to find the motorcycle with the help of a detailed description of the bike and the serial number.

“The system worked like clockwork,” Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Abel Gray said. “The victim did a super job of recording the vital details of the property and the sheriff’s deputies did a great job recovering the motorcycle.” Cole sentenced Pennington to a probationary Youthful Offender sentence in 2003 after Pennington pleaded guilty to two 2nd-degree burglary charges.

Pennington must serve 85 percent of the sentence.