A Pottstown woman pleaded guilty to felony charges of burglary and
conspiracy - that involved the
theft of four puppies - and was sentenced to three months and seven days already served to 23 months in jail, as reported by The Mercury.
B.R., 27, will be under the court's supervision, for approximately seven years, for the felonious incidents that occurred between June 10 and July 2 of 2010. In a sentence handed down by Judge Joseph A. Smyth, she must also complete five years of probation consecutive with her parole.
B.R., of Beech Street, was charged along with J.H., 28, also of Beech Street. J.H. was sentenced to 1 ½ to three years in county jail and a year of probation.
J.H. also had pleaded guilty to burglary related charges in connection with last summer's incidents.
Both prosecutors and police allege that B.R. and J.H. conspired to steal the puppies and afterwards, the pair had sold some of them.
Attorney Louise Petrillo represented B.R.
B.R. cooperated with prosecutors and offered to testify, per court papers, against J.H. if necessary.
On July 2 an Upland Street resident alerted police of two separate burglaries that had occurred in the residence. An investigation of B.R. and J.H. began at that time.
Pottstown Detective Adrian Stead wrote in the criminal complaint, "The victims had a new litter of puppies at their home and reported that a total of four dogs were removed from their home on two separate occasions."
During the police investigation, it was revealed that B.R., homeless and pregnant, had been offered a place to live, by the victims, for a one-month period, May 1 until June 1. On June 1, when one of the homeowners grew ill, they suggested that B.R. move out so that the illness would not affect the baby.
B.R. moved to another home, per court papers, in the same borough.
After a hospital stay, one of the homeowners returned home on June 10 and discovered that the house had been broken into. Missing items included two puppies from a new litter and some of B.R.'s property that had previously been left behind.
Court papers reveal that while on the social networking site Facebook, one of the victims saw that B.R. had announced on her Facebook page that she had taken their dog from their home.
During a second burglary, on July 2, two more puppies, and more of B.R.'s property, was removed from the residence.
The residence, though the doors were kept locked, had an unlocked window. The victims told police that they believed that this was how the burglars entered the home.
The victims also told police that they had gained information that led them to believe that B.R. and J.H. took the dogs, and removed the property, in both robberies.
If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony, contact a criminal defense attorney for assistance with your defense. An experienced attorney can help you avoid jail time and fines.
