FARMINGTON – A former Livermore man convicted in 2009 on 40 charges connected to burglaries and vandalism at camps on Porter Lake was sent back to prison Friday to serve 28 months after a Superior Court justice revoked his probation.

Justice Michaela Murphy made her decision despite a tearful plea from Shane Sturgeon to give him one more chance so that he could help his dying grandfather in Connecticut and to be with his young son who has a heart condition.

Sturgeon, 23, served nine months and one day in prison of a four-year sentence for his part in a two-day spree on 27 camps in Strong and New Vineyard that caused more than $100,000 in damage in June 2008. Sturgeon pleaded guilty to numerous burglary, criminal mischief and theft charges in February 2009. He was one of seven charged in the case.

He was also ordered to serve three years probation upon his release and to pay his share of the $8,595.18 in restitution ordered.

Sturgeon was on probation but failed to report to his probation officer beginning in late 2009, and left the state without telling him.

He still has three years and two months left on the prison sentence. He previously served a 30-day partial revocation for a violation of condition of release.

Assistant District Andrew Robinson asked the court Friday to revoke probation and Sturgeon back to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Probation officer Chris Libby told the court that in December 2009, a substance abuse counselor told him that he was discharging Sturgeon for not showing up for sessions. Libby said he made several attempts to contact Sturgeon but to no avail.

On Dec. 30, Libby said he received a call from two women, including Sturgeon’s ex-girlfriend, who said that Sturgeon was harassing them and dealing drugs.

Libby called Sturgeon again and this time Sturgeon returned the call. Sturgeon told Libby that the women had charged $900 in porn videos to his credit card and he had demanded they pay for them.

Libby made arrangements for Sturgeon to come in on Jan. 6, 2010, but he never showed.

“He evaporated,” Libby said.

Robinson said a component of the 2008 rampage was alcohol abuse. The purpose of probation is to provide supervision, he said, and it is difficult to do that when you can not find your charge.

Sturgeon’s attorney, Joshua Robinson, said the reason his client went to Connecticut was to visit his sick grandfather whom he had lived with when he was younger.

“He didn’t make a good decision,” Joshua Robinson said, of not contacting his probation officer and trying to work something out.

Sturgeon wiped tears from his eyes as Robinson read a letter his grandmother sent and Sturgeon read his own letter.

Sturgeon said he grew up without a father because his father chose not to be part of his life. He also said his grandfather stepped in to fill that void and helped raise him.

Sturgeon also spoke about his 28-month-old son who has a hole in his heart and is need of him.

“I will do what it takes to complete probation,” Sturgeon said. “I’d really like to be there for my Pops and my son. I know I can do it for my son and grandfather.”

Joshua Robinson argued for Sturgeon to continue probation.

Justice Murphy said she felt terrible about what his grandfather is going through and his son, but she could not use them as excuses to not send him back to jail.

“I have no choice but to terminate probation,” Murphy said.

She ordered him to serve 28 months in prison.

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