Heroin mom gets earful from Judge Kobly

YOUNGSTOWN

Jennifer Foley had no words as she was sentenced in municipal court Thursday to six months in the Mahoning County jail and three years’ probation after she pleaded no contest to taking window grates from a South Side church to sell for scrap.

Even if there were any words, they would have been hard to hear from the 27-year-old Foley, who spoke barely above a whisper.

But Judge Elizabeth Kobly had no trouble making herself understood, saying that stealing from a church just shows that for a heroin addict, there is no such thing as rock bottom.

“We all know there is really no low to which a heroin addict can go,” Judge Kobly said.

Foley pleaded no contest and was found guilty on charges of possession of criminal tools and receiving stolen property for taking steel window grates Aug. 4 from Gibson Heights Presbyterian Church on East Dewey Avenue and later selling them at a South Side recycling business.

Foley told the judge she last worked two years ago and has a 2-year-old daughter. The judge said she was very concerned for the future of the child and also upset because Foley told Judge Kobly her mother watches the child when she is using drugs or in trouble.

Read more about the case in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.