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Burglary trial for Monroe woman begins
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MONROE - A jury trial began Thursday morning, Jan. 26, for a Monroe woman accused of orchestrating an April 2010 home burglary on the city's northeast side.

Deanna Monique Hoffman, 25, faces felony charges of burglary and theft and a Class A misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer. The charges stem from an April 29, 2010, burglary of an apartment in the 2400 block of 4th Street.

Stolen in the break-in were a 65-inch television worth about $2,500, a computer worth about $1,500 and $194 in cash.

Two Monroe men have been convicted in the burglary. Justin W. Young, 25, was sentenced to prison, extended supervision and probation in conjunction with a separate conviction of dealing marijuana, and Dustin W. Smith, 26, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation.

Hoffman is accused of picking up the residents and taking them to a nearby tavern the evening of the burglary, then alerting Young and Smith that the home was unoccupied. During a police investigation of the incident, she is also accused of lying to an officer about what transpired.

Hoffman pleaded not guilty to all counts in March 2011.

Her defense counsel, Timothy Burns, told the jury in his opening statement that testimony from witnesses would prove the accusations "are all fables."

"The facts in this case are clear as mud," Burns said.

The trial is scheduled to continue through Friday, Jan. 27.