Butler woman paroled after time served for burglaries
A Butler woman, charged alongside her husband with using their newspaper delivery route to break into two homes, was paroled immediately on time served during a sentencing hearing in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Jamie L. Woodruff, 28, was sentenced to six to 12 months in the Butler County Prison, but with time served, was immediately paroled by Judge William Shaffer.
She also was ordered to undergo 36 months probation following her parole and pay $929.65 in restitution, after previously pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of theft.
She was initially charged with two counts each of felony burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, misdemeanor theft and summary criminal mischief. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea.
Jamie Woodruff was charged alongside her husband, Robert M. Woodruff, 37, after incidents on Oct. 10 and 11, 2016.
State police said the couple was using a paper route to target unoccupied homes, breaking into one in the 600 block of Calico Road in Washington Township and a second in the 300 block of Peaceful Valley Road in Washington Township, stealing guns, jewelry, money and other items.
The first burglary happened Oct. 10 or 11 at a home in the 600 block of Calico Road, and was discovered after the owners' daughter checked on the home and found an open door, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Among the property taken was a rifle, shotgun, jewelry, silver coins including half dollars and numerous $2 bills, the document states.
The next day, police answered a burglary alarm at the Peaceful Valley Road home and found forced entry through a basement window, and jewelry had been stolen, according to court documents.
The couple was identified through investigation, and both later found at a home on Main Street, with Robert Woodruff seen coming from the home.
Police said it is believed that he was casing the home for another burglary.
When confronted by police, he claimed he was delivering newspapers, but Jamie Woodruff began crying and repeatedly stated, “I knew this would happen,” documents state.
The documents state that Jamie Woodruff soon confessed to the burglaries, handing over a ring, two bracelets and a necklace that she was wearing, and telling police that the two stolen firearms had been taken to their home. Those items, police said, as well as more jewelry and several half-dollar coins in her purse were some of the stolen loot.
Robert Woodruff was previously sentenced to four to eight years in a state correctional facility after pleading guilty to felony former convict not to possess a firearm and two counts of felony burglary on July 18.
