ANDERSON — Restitution and remorse have earned Amber Updegraff a second chance.
On Tuesday, Updegraff was sentenced to serve 30 months' of probation after pleading guilty in a string of church robberies in fall 2007.
“I apologize to the court for what I’ve done,” said Updegraff, 28. “To the pastor, I’m sorry for everything I’ve caused you. The pain I’ve caused your church, you and your wife and family. I’m deeply sorry.”
Updegraff, 27, was caught breaking into Main Street Church of God in October 2007 by Pastor Don Billey. She had broken into the church at 4211 Main St. three times the previous week.
She was charged with four counts of burglary, all Class B felonies, and two counts of theft, both Class D felonies. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Updegraff was allowed to plead guilty to the two theft charges in exchange for two 30-month probationary periods to be served concurrently, under the condition that she does not re-offend.
Her attorney, Doug Long, entered into the court record a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder by Dr. Malcolm Jackson. Updegraff testified that she was taking part in a monthly mental health program and had paid restitution to the church.
“I do have some concerns about the disposition of the case,” said Billey, who also serves as Anderson Police Department chaplain. “I don’t believe Miss Updegraff has been completely forthcoming that there was more than one individual in the first robbery.”
Billey staked out his own church the night of Oct. 21, 2007 after the building was broken into Oct. 17, 19 and 20. He brought a flashlight and video camera to capture the intruder, whom he believed to be a juvenile.
At 10:30 p.m., Updegraff, dressed all in black and wearing latex gloves, broke a window and entered. Billey told her to stop, get on the ground and then held her until police arrived.
Updegraff admitted to APD Detective Jon Needler that she committed the three previous break-ins and stole $75 from a filing cabinet, some children’s toys, a baby seat, a laptop computer, digital camera, four backpacks and a metal lock box containing papers.
The items were valued at $1,500. She told detectives she used the money to buy food and cigarettes.
Although the items were recovered and restitution paid, Billey said some of what was taken could never be replaced. Data was erased from the laptop, and photographs of his late mother were deleted from the camera.
Judge Fredrick Spencer agreed that Updegraff was holding back.
“I think you know more than you’re letting on,” he said. “You know enough to erase the memory card on the camera so you can use the camera. You known how to reformat the laptop to use for your own purposes. You’re not the kind of person to steal food.”
He urged her to focus on her family, a fiancé and young son and offered her help in finding food, if necessary. At the time of the robberies, Updegraff lived next door to the church and has since relocated to Elwood.
“I believe she has made an honest effort to do some things to turn her life around,” Billey said. “I bear her no ill will and hope that she can become a productive citizen by completing any treatment she needs and community service.”
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