On Thursday, Gaba pleaded guilty to both charges in Butler County Common Pleas Court. She faces a maximum of four years in prison. Sentencing is set for May 5.
Middletown police responded on Dec. 4 to the 2800 block of Burbank Avenue and found the victim, a 72-year-old woman, sitting on the ground and hysterical, with visible marks and injuries to her face, police said
She told officers she gave a woman she didn’t know a ride from Meijer to an apartment complex in the 2800 block of Burbank. The woman had a shopping bag from Meijer and trash bags filled with other items, the victim told police.
When they arrived at the apartment complex, the woman later identified as Gaba grabbed the victim’s purse and attempted to flee. During the struggle for the purse, the victim suffered minor injuries, and the suspect eventually ran away, police said.
During the struggle for her purse, the woman lost her car keys, and her car was towed to her house in Lebanon.
Police found a Meijer receipt at the scene. They viewed surveillance footage from Meijer and were able to identify the woman.
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