Woman enters guilty plea in home burglary

YOUNGSTOWN — A defendant in a Jan. 30 Canfield home break-in has pleaded guilty to burglary, and the prosecution will recommend probation for her.

Joanne Douglas, 39, of Youngstown, entered her plea Monday — the day she was to have gone to trial before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Douglas was the cleaning woman for Darlene DeChellis of Bradford Drive, whose home was burglarized. Police said Douglas helped her brother-in-law, John Douglas, 35, of Youngstown, and Richard Cummings, 35, of Lynn Avenue, plan that burglary based on her knowledge of DeChellis’ routines.

Police said DeChellis came home unexpectedly Jan. 30, surprised John Douglas inside and chased him to his getaway car, in which Cummings waited behind the wheel.

Last week, John Douglas and Cummings pleaded guilty to the home burglary and to a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day break-in at the DeChellis Restaurant in New Middletown, with the prosecution recommending a three-year prison term for John Douglas and probation for Cummings when they are sentenced June 12.

John Douglas and Cummings are in Mahoning County Jail. Joanne Douglas is free on bond pending her sentencing June 13.