Orange Co. Trial Exposes Spree

Of Burglaries in Eastern Orange Co.

By Cornelia Cesari

"I’m just one of the many victims," Delinda Jordan reminded the court, at a sentencing hearing for Keith Ingalls at Orange County Courthouse on Wed., July 23.

Jordan’s Thetford home was burglarized on Christmas Eve 2006, while the family was driving to North Carolina. Her tearful testimony told a tale of bureaucratic nightmares trying to replace social security cards, birth certificates, and adoption papers.

Jordan also spoke of being set back years with the loss of a laptop containing schoolwork and exams. Ingalls sat silently as she referred to accusations. The thieves also took many of the Jordans’ belongings, including electronics, guns, knives, and a safe containing their savings of over $10,000 and valuable coin collection.

The whole experience has been so traumatizing, according to Jordan, that—a year and a half later—she and her husband now sleep in shifts, even with their new security system.

"I trusted people before," she reflects. "Now I don’t trust anyone. I didn’t know people would do this." At her daughter’s request, she once gave Ingalls a ride when he needed it, and bought him a meal. She still shudders at the thought of the burglars going through everything in their house.

"Your Honor," she pleaded with Judge Theresa S. DiMauro, "If you let him out, it will just happen all over again." Ingalls was released in August of 2007 but arrested again three weeks later for violation of probation.

The judge acknowledged Jordan’s anguish and asked Ingalls if he had any reaction. After first refusing, Ingalls spoke up. "I heard her," he muttered unapologetically, "but I also have two other co-defendants."

"Meaning what?" asked Judge DiMauro.

"I feel like she’s 100% totally mad at me but I also have two co-defendants. I mean, she says someone’s using her credit cards but I’ve been locked up so how could it be me?"

Ingalls’ co-defendants include Justin French, Zach Butts, Joshua Butler, and Logan Keenan; and the exploits of the group (through Orford, Newbury, Bradford, Ryegate and Vershire) include multiple car thefts, burglaries, vandalism, eluding law enforcement, and weapons charges.

The affidavits in their files are peppered with stories like stolen vehicles driven into the Connecticut River, a safe thrown into a brook, the window of a cruiser kicked out, a Christmas Eve burglary at the Vershire Town Hall, and fugitives hiding in a closet and the back seat of a car.

Numerous law enforcement agencies were involved: the New Hampshire and Vermont State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Thetford and Bradford Police Departments.

After a pause, during which Judge DiMauro examined the defendant silently, Ingalls’ attorney, Frederick M. Glover of Woodstock, whispered in his ear.

"The conditions of my release won’t allow me any contact with her, will they? So I couldn’t send her an apology?" Ingalls then asked.

"No, that’s correct," answered DiMauro.

"Then can I openly apologize now?" he mumbled.

The plea bargain struck by state’s attorney Will Porter reduced the charges related to the Jordan burglary from felony counts of burglary and grand larceny to misdemeanor charges of unlawful trespass and petit larceny (less than $900), to which Ingalls pleaded no contest.

Ingalls also pleaded no contest to two felony charges of buying, receiving, selling, possessing, or concealing stolen property greater than $100. The state dismissed two other like charges, as well as a felony vehicle operation without owner consent, and violation of conditions of release.

Citing the need for a "measured response" and "consistent sentencing," Judge DiMauro acknowledged that Ingalls had already served more than a typical sentence for those charges while waiting for trial.

She reiterated the defense arguments: that threat of serving out his full sentence and the renewed support of his mother are both deterrents to further violations. DiMauro included in his conditions a requirement that he undergo mental health counseling and take all prescribed medications. She acknowledged the need for substantial supervision and monitoring by the Department of Corrections.

In response to Jordan’s testimony, Judge DiMauro ordered that Ingalls pay more than the statutory limit of $500 for restitution for petit larceny, stating that "He and his co-defendants rectify, at least, the monetary losses of the victims…and try to make them whole in that way."

The Court sentenced Ingalls to 18 months to five years, all suspended except 541 days, with credit for 531 days served. The sentencing was calculated to coincide with the lease on an apartment secured for Ingalls in St. Johnsbury.

As for Jordan, she feels her sentence isn’t over.

"We still find little stuff missing … just three weeks ago I found out they stole the suit my husband got married in." Still, she doesn’t blame Ingalls solely. "It isn’t just him. It’s all these kids that are stealing and breaking into places. If he can straighten out, I’d really love him to."

She wishes, though, that people would come forward with their knowledge. "What I want is the whole truth to come out, not just half of those involved…We’ve got to get these kids off the streets…The community’s going to start taking this into their own hands."