Reardan woman's burglary trial rescheduled

REARDAN — The trial for a local woman accused of burglary and theft in Wilbur has been postponed until Tuesday, August 13.

Justina Buffington, 40, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court for a readiness hearing, where her public defender, David Hearrean, requested the delay, citing the need for two full days of trial preparation. A new readiness hearing was set for Tuesday, July 22.

Buffington previously pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 18, to charges of residential burglary, second-degree theft, and third-degree malicious mischief stemming from her arrest in early March.

She was taken into custody around 12:27 a.m. on Friday, March 8, after a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy observed a white minivan parked outside an unoccupied residence at 515 North East Main Street in Wilbur. The property was under regular security checks due to past break-in attempts.

According to the arrest report, the deputy saw the front door ajar and a woman—later identified as Buffington—leaving the home. She claimed she had been hired through a Craigslist ad by someone named “Anderson” to clean out the house. However, Virginia Roberts, who had requested the property be monitored, confirmed that only a man named Tanner Roberts had permission to be there.

Records show that Buffington was unable to provide any documentation supporting her claims. A records check revealed an active warrant for driving with a suspended license. She was arrested at the scene.

According to court documents, deputies noted that the wooden bar used to secure the front door had been forcibly removed and the door frame showed signs of prying. Buffington reportedly admitted that the items inside her vehicle had come from the residence.

Buffington was later booked into the Lincoln County Jail.

Author Bio

Olivia Harnack, Managing Editor

Olivia Harnack is the award-winning managing editor/photographer/videographer/columnist at the Lincoln County Record-Times, with offices in both Davenport and Odessa, Wash. She is a University of Idaho graduate and a U.S. Army National Guardsman.