By Abbey Doyle
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
The Madison County woman who fled to Florida after a February 2009 arraignment on six felony charges is set to face trial in September on those charges.
Lori Babb was extradited back to Madison County on June 11 after being convicted in May in Panama City Beach, Fla., in connection with reportedly stealing from her employer there. She was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution as part of a plea agreement.
Before the arrest in Florida, Babb was arrested in February 2009 after turning herself in at the Madison County Jail on charges of theft, insurance fraud and forgery in connection with reportedly diverting money from her Pendleton employer. Her attorney Zaki Ali has said Babb winters in Florida but lives in Madison County.
According to court documents:
Babb worked as an office manager for storage business Time and Space and Dolphins’ Cove tanning salon, both at 8299 S. Indiana 13, Pendleton. A U-Haul truck rental business also operated from the business.
Babb reportedly took checks paid to the company, either for storage services, tanning or truck rentals and deposited them in bank accounts she opened between August 2007 and February 2008. The funds totaled about $2,500.
The insurance fraud charge stems from Babb filing a claim purporting she owned the property and a gate had been damaged.
Babb denied taking any funds when questioned by police.
Madison County Prosecutor Thomas Broderick Jr. said on Sept. 28, Babb is scheduled to face trial on charges of Class C felony forgery, three counts of Class D felonies theft and Class D felony theft by fraud. She remains jailed as her bond was revoked after her arrest in Florida.
“We still believe that Lori (Babb) is innocent,” Ali said. “The facts will come out at trial. We are confident that a jury will find her not guilty after all the evidence is out in front of them to decide.”
Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com.
