Pa. woman blames gin-soaked raisins, not drinking, for probation violation

Pa. woman blames gin-soaked raisins for violation

EASTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania woman says she wasn’t raising a glass, just raisins. Fifty-nine-year-old Judy Russo is accused of violating her probation by drinking and blames gin-soaked raisins she used to treat her arthritis.

A Northampton County judge sentenced Russo this month to time behind bars after she failed a urine test. Her attorney filed papers Monday saying she turned to boozy berries because conventional medication doesn’t work.

Attorney Jason Jenkins said his client has learned her lesson and asked that her sentence be reduced to probation or time served. Jenkins says Russo also has lung cancer.

She had been on probation after pleading no contest to a stalking charge.