CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man was sentenced to county jail after pleading guilty to stealing from his friend’s parents.
Barry Reddinger pleaded guilty to a felony 1 count of burglary. Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman sentenced him to five months to one year in Clearfield County Jail and two years of consecutive probation. Reddinger was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $200, plus pay the cost of prosecution. He must submit to DNA testing at his own cost, refrain from alcohol and/or controlled substances and is not to have contact with the victims.
Reddinger’s attorney, Ron Collins, told the judge that Reddinger was, “completely wracked with guilt.”
Reddinger’s step-father, Jim Kling, spoke on his behalf.
“I’m very proud of my son for what he did after the crime … he owned up to it.”
Kling asked for the court to show compassion for Reddinger, who works as an over the road truck driver. Ammerman noted that he doubted the warden at CCJ would allow Reddinger work release to work as an OTR driver.
The victim’s in the case also spoke. The husband stated, “I feel the only reason we got our money back is because he got caught.”
Prior to sentencing, Reddinger spoke to the court.
“It’s a stupid thing to do. I’m sorry.”
He also addressed the victims, telling that that he was sorry.
According to a prior report, Reddinger stole nearly $5,000 from his friend’s parents. Sgt. James Glass spoke with Reddinger that evening regarding the incident. He stated that Reddinger told him he did not see anyone around the home the first time he went to the son’s residence. He said Reddinger told him he went to the son’s a second time to see if the son was there and again passed by. He reportedly told Glass that he saw no one at this time. Glass asked Reddinger if he knew anything about a blue Chevy truck being on Pifer Road, to which Reddinger said no.
On May 3 Glass received a call from Clearfield County Control directing him to contact one of the alleged victims. He called and one of the alleged victims told him that he had called Reddinger and questioned him about the theft. He said that Reddinger told him that he did it and that he would give them back their money. He said when Reddinger arrived he was short $300, to which Reddinger said he would go back to his residence and retrieve the rest. He said his son rode with Reddinger and the caller (talking to Glass) rode in his own vehicle behind them. Once their he said Reddinger provided him with the rest of the money and the father and son rode back together.
Glass said that the mother received a note on her windshield where she works on Sunday (May 2) from Reddinger to her family. According to the affidavit Reddinger asked the family to forgive him. Glass was provided with letter.
On May 5, 2010 Glass contacted Reddinger and asked if he would speak with him at the LTPD station, to which Reddinger agreed. According to the affidavit Reddinger was provided with a copy of his Miranda warnings. Reddinger advised Glass that he understood and waived his Miranda rights.
Glass asked Reddinger if he would like to tell him what happened or write it down, then go over the written statement. He reported that Reddinger said he would rather write it down. According to the affidavit, Reddinger’s statement read that he was visiting the son on April 25 at Reddinger’s home. The two were longtime friends. He wrote that they were talking and the topic of money arose. He wrote that the son told him his parents had a large sum of money they kept in their home, about $8,000. Glass reported that Reddinger wrote he tried to talk himself out of it and that he did not want to take the money.
On May 30 Reddinger parked his vehicle up the road from the alleged vicitms’ home. He then opened their garage door and went inside. He said he went in, found another door and was surprised it was unlocked. He wrote he went in and took roughly $5,000 in cash. Reddinger said it was at about 1:30 p.m. on April 30.