Man Sentenced in Theft at Home of Rick James

A man was sentenced to jail for stealing jewelry and other items from singer Rick James’ home in the hills above Studio City while he was in jail in a sex assault case. Jeffrey Phillip Matusak, 30, of Riverside received nine months in jail and three years’ probation on Thursday after pleading guilty to grand theft on Aug. 30.

Matusak and several other employees of Competitive Movers moved furniture and other items from James’ home after the singer’s Aug. 2 arrest in the sex-torture case involving a woman he allegedly held hostage. A bag of jewelry was discovered to be missing, and police eventually found that Matusak had the items.

James and a girlfriend have pleaded not guilty in the sex-torture case.