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Youngstown woman receives four years on burglary charge
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
A city woman received four years in prison for breaking into a man’s house and stealing money from a safe under his bed.
Tina Jarrette, 51, of Wood Street pleaded guilty to burglary in August in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Prosecutors dropped a charge of safecracking. Judge John M. Durkin sentenced Jarrette on Tuesday.
Jarrette broke into a home with a co-defendant and took $1,100 from a safe, prosecutors said.
Christopher White, 43, of East Judson Street, the co-defendant, also faces charges of burglary and safecracking related to the incident. His case awaits final disposition.
The victim, Curtis Hill, told the court he befriended Jarrette and helped provide her with food and money over the years as she struggled with addiction.
He felt betrayed after the burglary, he said, and by the fact Jarrette laughed at him when he saw her in the street while she was out on bail.
“For her to laugh at me and break into my house ... it tore me apart mentally,” Hill said.
She previously had stolen money from his wallet and he forgave her, he added.
Jarrette’s attorney said her only excuse was chemical dependency, but she told the court she was clean at the time of the robbery and blamed her actions on White, with whom she was involved.
“I knew better,” Jarrette said. “I should have said no. I didn’t say no.”
Judge Durkin, who oversees the drug court docket, said he’s too often seen crime caused by addiction, but Jarrette’s claims she was clean do not help her.
“I actually think it’s worse that you could set this up if you were clean,” Judge Durkin said. “But I suppose love does that, too.”
In addition to four years in prison, the judge ordered Jarrette to pay $1,100 in restitution. She brought $250 with her to court, her attorney said.
Jarrette previously was convicted of an attempted felony after being indicted on burglary charges in 2014. She received an 18-month probation.
Prosecutors said they would not oppose judicial release for Jarrette after she serves two years.