Mineral Ridge couple receives probation for stealing $212,000 in jewelry

Staff report

WARREN

A Mineral Ridge couple have both been sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution of $212,000 for stealing jewelry from the home of the couple who own Gene’s Jewelers downtown.

Geri L. Balch, 23, and Ricky L. Snyder, 32, of Burnett South Road, got married earlier this year. They received their sentence Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

They were ordered to serve 60 days each in the Trumbull County jail, then participate in a program through the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program on Pine Avenue Southeast that lasts about six months.

Both pleaded guilty earlier to theft from an elderly person, a second-degree felony punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Police said Balch worked as a housekeeper for Alda and Gene Battista, owners of Gene’s Jewelers on North Park Avenue. She and Snyder are responsible for theft of jewelry from the Battista home on Country Club Drive in early 2012.

The Battistas suspected Balch of stealing from them, and video confirmed it, police said.

Balch admitted stealing a necklace but said she returned it with an apology letter. She also admitted stealing a bracelet, police said. A search warrant was obtained in an attempt to return it.

Among the items missing from the home were a diamond ring set worth $58,000 and diamond ring valued at $112,000.

In court Wednesday, Alda Battista expressed hope that the couple could recover from their drug addictions.

Balch and Snyder got married Valentine’s Day this year at the Chapel of Friendly Bells at Trinity United Methodist Church on Front Street in Youngstown, according to Vindicator files.

Theirs was among eight low-cost weddings at the chapel during a walk-in wedding event. The couple have a 3-year-old son.