KNOX, Pa. (EYT) — A Knox man is facing felony theft and related charges stemming from three separate incidents that occurred in the Knox area.
Court documents indicate criminal charges have been filed against 49-year-old Paul Martin Kern, Jr., of Knox.
Bus Mong Road, Beaver Township Crime — March 1, 2016
According to a criminal complaint, around 9:50 p.m. on March 1, a known individual reported a suspicious person around her home getting into her Jeep.
The complaint states that while responding to the crime scene, Officer Owens, of Clarion-based State Police, passed an individual walking along State Route 322 matching the description of the suspicious person reported. Officer Owens turned the patrol car around and stopped the individual, identified as Paul Martin Kern, Jr. “Kern told Officer Owens that he was looking for money and cigarettes, but didn’t take anything.”
He was charged with the following offenses:
– Theft From A Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 3
– Loitering And Prowling At Night Time, Misdemeanor 3
Bail was set at $1,000.00 unsecured.
Twin Church Road Theft — April 23, 2016
According to a criminal complaint, around 12:49 a.m. on April 23, Officers Salusky and Gezik, of PSP Clarion, were dispatched to a residence on Twin Church Road, in Knox, Beaver Township, for a report of a person inside a vehicle at the homeowner’s residence.
When the officers arrived at the residence, Paul Martin Kern, Jr. was standing on the edge of the roadway.
The homeowner explained that “around 12:40 a.m., his dog barked which caused him to look outside his bedroom window. He looked down onto his driveway and observed the interior lights of his 2013 white Chrysler Town and Country were activated, and a white male was inside the driver’s side of the vehicle rummaging around. The man attempted to leave the scene on foot but stopped when the homeowner told him to return. The homeowner noted that the man was wearing gloves during the crime,” the complaint states.
Around 1:00 a.m., Kern was taken into custody. He allegedly confessed to entering the vehicle on Twin Church Road in Knox in an attempt to steal any money he could find inside. He was in possession of a pair of gloves which he allegedly acknowledged that he wore so that he would not leave his fingerprints at the crime scene. The gloves were entered into evidence at the PSP Clarion barracks, the complaint states.
He agreed to make a written statement in which he confessed, “Tonight I hit one car and got caught.” He went on to explain that by “hit” he meant that he entered the vehicle looking for money, the complaint indicates.
He was arraigned at 8:00 a.m. on April 23 in front of Magisterial District Judge Timothy P. Schill on a third-degree felony charge of Theft From A Motor Vehicle.
Unable to post bail $15,000.00 monetary, he was lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
Knox Borough Theft — April 14, 2016
Sometime between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on April 14, while a vehicle was parked in front of a store located on Miller Street in Knox. Paul Kern, Jr. alleged entered the vehicle and removed approximately $20.00 in change, without being given permission to do so, according to a criminal complaint.
Chief Bowen, of Knox Boro Police Department, filed charges against Kern in Magisterial District Judge Amy Long Turk’s office.
Kern was arraigned at 11:00 a.m. on April 27 on the following charges:
– Theft From A Motor Vehicle, Felony 3
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 3
– Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 3
– Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physical Offense, Summary
Bail was set at $15,000.00 monetary.
Cases Transferred to Clarion County Court of Common Pleas
According to court documents, on May 3, preliminary hearings on all three cases were waived.
The cases are now working their way through the court system.
No other information is available.
