Convicted third suspect in thefts in Allen County

LIMA – A woman from Hardin County who evaded law enforcement for more than six months after her arrest as an accomplice in two burglaries in eastern Allen County was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday.

Jennifer Woodruff, 38, of Kenton, was charged – along with her husband Larry and Kenton resident Matthew Baltz – with two counts of burglary and one count of grand theft if the property is a firearm or dangerous munition due to . at residences on Faulkner Road and Harod Road in eastern Allen County in March 2021.

Woodruff was released on bail following her charges, but did not appear for a urine test in August, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was taken into custody on March 25 this year.

In late March, she pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and third-degree burglary.

Balti brought his case to court, but before the second day of testimony, prosecutors asked him to plead guilty to the Information Protocol, which charges him with two counts of attempted theft, fifth-degree crimes, and a second-degree felony. The charge of escape is that Balti did not return to prison after a medical leave.

The deal came after a jury mistakenly showed photos of a house that allegedly belonged to one of the victims in the theft case. The housewife testified in court that her residence was not in the photos.

Balti was sentenced to five years in prison.

Larry Woodruff testified at the Balti trial and said he entered a house on Harrod Road on March 15, 2021 and took out tools, several pistols and a pair of Air Jordan tennis shoes, as well as other items. Woodruff confessed that he was standing near the house and taking things to the waiting car driven by his wife. Some of these items were later discovered when Hardin County authorities received a search warrant and entered Balti’s apartment in Kenton.

In March, he was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for theft.