By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Patricia Jane Zeringue

WARSAW — A Warsaw woman was sentenced to four years in prison after burglarizing a residence.

Patricia Jane Zeringue, 41, 712 Ellsworth St., Warsaw, was charged with burglary, a level 4 felony. Theft and criminal mischief charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Zeringue was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 on Monday, Oct. 19.

On May 11, Warsaw Police went to a residence regarding a burglary. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a man who said he was working on a residence so the property could be sold. According to court documents, the man said he arrived at the residence with a potential buyer when he noticed a broken window.

The man went into the residence to investigate when he saw a woman, identified as Zeringue, inside. Zeringue had no contractual interest in the property and did not have permission to be inside the residence. While inside the residence, officers saw a half of a brick that appeared to have been used to break the window.

Officers noticed Zeringue was intoxicated and began placing her under arrest when she gave officers a Bostitch-brand nail gun, valued at $100, and a set of house keys for the residence.

“Patricia is going to have to answer for her criminal history and she knows it,” said Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz.

For burglary, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge David Cates sentenced Zeringue to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with two years suspended on probation. Zeringue also has 161 days of jail time credit; the sentence will be served consecutively to two criminal misdemeanor battery cases.

Zeringue must also pay $250 in restitution.