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Woman indicted in death of pedestrian
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
A Trumbull County grand jury has indicted a city woman on charges of misdemeanor vehicular homicide and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a March accident that killed a pedestrian.
Debra M. Paden, 49, of Linda Drive Northwest, could get up to six months in jail on each charge.
Police said they tested Paden’s blood-alcohol level at 0.168, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, after the 12:30 a.m. March 17 crash that killed Josh J. Kale, 19, of Clearview Street Northwest.
Kale was walking home from work in dark clothing, a hooded sweat shirt pulled up around his face, and was wearing headphones, Warren police said.
Investigating officers determined that Kale was at fault in the accident because he crossed the road in front of Paden, who was driving the posted 25 mph speed limit.
The grand jury refused to indict Paden on a felony aggravated vehicular homicide charge that would have carried a possible penalty of eight years in prison.
In another matter, the grand jury indicted Geri L. Balch, 22, of Liberty Avenue, Girard, and Ricky L. Snyder, 31, of Burnett South Road in Mineral Ridge on charges that they stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from the home of an elderly couple.
Balch and Snyder are charged with theft from an elderly person, which could produce a prison sentence of up to eight years.
Warren police said Balch worked as a house cleaner for the couple living on Country Club Drive Northeast. The indictment says Balch and Snyder are responsible for theft ranging from $37,500 to $150,000.
Court documents say the couple, who own Gene’s Jewelers downtown, suspected Balch of stealing from them, and security video showed it was true.
Balch admitted stealing a necklace but said she returned it with an apology letter.
Balch also admitted stealing a bracelet that she said was in her home, court records say. A search warrant was obtained to try to recover that and other jewelry.
The owners of the jewelry reported that a diamond ring set worth $58,000 and a diamond ring valued at $112,000 also were missing.