MANATEE -- Palmetto's Julie Baldwin, 27, was being held in the Manatee County jail Thursday without bond after being charged with providing false identification to a second-hand dealer and for violating her probation on four earlier charges.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office believes Baldwin, who lists her address as the 6000 block of 66th Street Circle E., Palmetto, went to a residence in the 2400 block of Seventh Court East and took a diamond engagement ring worth approximately $4,000 that was on a ledge above the sink in the kitchen.
Detectives think the crime occurred 12:30 p.m. March 11, according to a sheriff's office report.
A report states that, at 3:05 p.m. on March 11, a suspect believed to be Baldwin sold the ring to a Cash America pawn shop in Ellenton for $150.
Baldwin signed documents and gave her fingerprint to verify that the ring was hers, the report states.
During an interview with detectives, Baldwin said she took the ring and pawned it, the report adds.
Baldwin's mother, who detectives believe was at the victim's home at the time of the crime, did not see her daughter take the ring but took her to the pawn shop immediately after their visit with the victim, according to the report.
Baldwin allegedly told her mother she found the ring at Taco Bell and wished to sell it.
Baldwin's four probation violations involved two for burglary to an unoccupied structure, possession of burglary tools and possession of a controlled substance, the report states. Her probation started on Oct. 19, 2012 and was supposed to expire on Oct. 18, 2014.


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