Bon Jovi’s mansion on the Middletown side of the Navesink was one of the homes entered in the 2011 burglary spree, authorities said.  (Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

An Ocean County man faces up to five years in state prison following his guilty plea to breaking into a number of Middletown homes, including the riverfront mansion belonging to pop star Jon Bon Jovi, the Monmouth County Prosecutor announced Wednesday.

Nick Tracy, 22, right, pleaded guilty to swiping more than $300,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables in a series of break-ins over the course of one month in the spring of 2011, according to an announcement by the prosecutor’s office.

redbankgreen encountered Tracy driving around Red Bank with this bust of Napoleon Bonaparte in his car in the midst of his burlgary spree. The bust was later found to have been lawfully acquired. (Click to enlarge)

Under the terms of a plea, Tracy is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison when he appears before state Superior Court Judge Ronald Reisner on October 12.

Authorities alleged that Tracy, of Beachwood, broke into “a series” of homes over the course of three weeks beginning March 14, 2011. While those cases were under investigation, Tracy was caught hiding in a third-floor bathroom of a home he was in the midst of burglarizing in the same neighborhood – one of the nation’s wealthiest – a month later after he tripped a burglar alarm.

The prosecutor’s office says some of the stolen property was later recovered.

redbankgreen readers may recall Tracy as the guy who drove around Red Bank with a large bust of Napoleon Bonaparte seat-belted into the front seat of his car in the midst of his spree.

Tracy told redbankgreen he’d purchased the bust at Restoration Hardware in Red Bank, a claim that was later verified by store officials.