Berlin antique store burglers arrested after pawning items
NANCY POWELL ¦ Staff Writer
(Dec. 9, 2011) To maintain a drug-free lifestyle, maintain a life without drug users — simple advice offered Monday by Judge Richard Bloxom to a 20-year-old Bishopville woman who broke into a Berlin business in April.
“You don’t have a prayer of not using drugs if you don’t stay away from people using drugs,” Bloxom told Amanda Elizabeth Sinclair in Circuit Court in Snow Hill. “You have to find a whole new group of friends.”
Sinclair, who dropped out of Stephen Decatur High School during her senior year, pleaded guilty Dec. 5, to fourth-degree burglary. In exchange for Sinclair’s guilty plea, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office did not prosecute charges of second-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property and three charges of theft.
Earlier this year Sinclair and Orion Conway, 21, of Berlin, broke into Town Center Antiques II, a large store on Main Street that features a number of booths rented by various dealers to sell antiques and some hand-crafted items. They took coins valued at $1,610 from one dealer; two pocket watches, a necklace and bracelet valued at $700 from another dealer; and old coins valued at $1,000 from a third dealer. They also destroyed the door in order to gain access to the business.
Sinclair and Conway were caught after pawning some of the items at a West Ocean City jewelry store.
“Obviously, she has a drug abuse problem,” Colleen Jennings, Sinclair’s public defender, told the court.
Sinclair spent two weeks at the Hudson Health Center, a treatment facility in Salisbury for people whose lives are influenced by alcohol and other drug dependencies.
“I really regret the decisions I made in the past,” she said.
Bloxom had his doubts.
“At the ripe old age of 20, you’re facing three years in prison,” Bloxom told Sinclair. “You’re a drug addict, stealing to support your addiction. Something has to change in your life or you will have a pretty miserable life.”
Bloxom then sentenced Sinclair to three years in prison, with all suspended but 45 days. He gave her credit for one day already served. After her release from jail, she will be on supervised probation for three years, must pay a $500 fine and $170 in court costs. She must submit to a substance abuse evaluation and get treatment as directed by her probation agent. She must complete the county’s stringent Drug Court program, must abstain from all alcohol and illegal drugs, must not abuse prescription drugs and must perform 40 hours of community service within six months of her release from jail.
On Nov. 29, in District Court in Snow Hill, Sinclair was found guilty of possession of marijuana and placed on probation. As a result, she may be charged with violation of probation following her Dec. 5 guilty plea. She is also scheduled for trial Dec. 20 in that court on theft charges.
Conway pleaded guilty Oct. 13 to theft under $1,000 and was given a suspended 18-month jail sentence with two years probation and a $500 fine. He is scheduled for a Jan. 6 violation of probation hearing.
