10/25/11 Couple who targeted Amish homes to burglarize plea

  • By Nick Sabo
  • October 25, 2011
  • 278
                        
SUMMARY: Burglarized homes while occupants away at church A Wooster couple charged with burglarizing Amish homes pleaded Tuesday Oct. 25 in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to charges stemming from five home invasions. Reuben Troyer, 21, and Natasha Urconis, 21, both of 1751 E. Smithville - Western Road, pleaded each to five counts of burglary. The first of the five counts is a second degree felony carrying up to eight years in prison and the remaining four counts are third degree felonies carrying up to 36 months in prison. In exchange for their guilty pleas, the state agreed not to pursue further charges stemming from other home invasions. Troyer and Urconis, who have a child together, were apprehended Sept. 6 after being identified as suspects in multiple burglaries in Holmes, Wayne and Knox counties. According to Holmes County Sheriff’s reports, Urconis and Troyer would approach Amish homes on Sundays. Urconis would knock on the door and, if anyone was home, she and Troyer would move on to another house. If the home was unoccupied, they would proceed to enter the residence looking for cash and other items. After they were arrested, Urconis and Troyer led deputies to “16 or 17” homes in the three-county area that they burglarized, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Oehl said. Oehl said the couple hit four houses in a single day July 3, surprising the occupants of the first house. “(They) knocked on the door and the two of them entered,” Oehl said. “The (homeowners) were at church but friends who were visiting were in the house. They concealed themselves in a bedroom...and emerged to confront” Troyer and Urconis, Oehl said. Troyer and Urconis fled the residence only to hit three more homes, stealing an estimated “$2,200 to $2,400” in cash, Oehl said. The two were arrested after Holmes County deputies tracked their vehicle to a Township Road 151 home in Wayne County that Troyer and Urconis were in the process of burglarizing. One of Urconis’ two children was in the vehicle at the time. Troyer and Urconis have been charged with burglary, a third-degree felony, in Wayne County Common Pleas Court. Urconis said the burglaries were spurred by drug use. She said she was spending “$80 to $90” a day on a Percocet addiction. Urconis said her role in the burglaries was mostly limited to checking to see if anyone was home. “I did enter three homes,” Urconis said. “Nine out of 10 times I knocked on the door. I did not go in.” Troyer was raised Amish and is familiar with church schedules in the area, according to Sheriff Tim Zimmerly. Amish churches meet every other Sunday. Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4.


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