UPDATE: Escaped Trio Jailed on $150k Bail Each After Allegedly Robbing Family at Gunpoint in Tionesta

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published August 2, 2016 2:50 am
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TIONESTA, Pa. (EYT) — Three escapees from a juvenile detention facility are facing multiple felony charges after allegedly robbing a family at gunpoint on Saturday morning.

According to court documents, Marienville-based State Police filed criminal charges against 18-year-old Stephen Joseph Renaldi, 18-year-old Kordell Christopher Walden, and a known, 17-year-old male — all residents of Taylor Diversion Programs in Tionesta.

According to a criminal complaint, Renaldi, Walden, and the 17-year-old male escaped from the Taylor Diversion Programs, a youth placement facility, located in Tionesta Borough, Forest County.

The complaint indicates that the three suspects “attempted to (steal) a vehicle, located in lot #82 of the Tionesta Recreation Area, by entering the victims’ camper and demanding the vehicle keys. A handgun was pointed at (the three victims) in an attempt to force the victims to turn over the keys.” After the victims refused to forfeit the keys, the suspects took one of the victim’s cellular phones and fled the campsite into a nearby wooded area.

The victims then contacted PSP Marienville to report the incident and Troopers Salusky and Whisner were dispatched to investigate the incident. The victims told police that they were able to track the positioning of the stolen cellular phone through the use of an application of another cellular phone they owned. While attempting to locate the stolen cellular phone position on the campground, Stephen Renaldi and Kordell Walden presented themselves to Trooper Whisner and were taken into custody. The 17-year-old suspect continued to flee police on foot throughout the campground, according to the complaint.

Additional State Police and County resources were organized to locate the 17-year-old, after it was discovered that he was still in possession of the handgun. He was located by PSP and taken into custody without incident near the Tionesta community park, the complaint continues.

All three suspects were then transported to PSP Marienville to be processed. When the handgun utilized in this crime was processed and run through NCIC/Clean, it was learned that it was stolen from a local resident, the complaint states.

Court documents indicate criminal charges were filed against all three suspects in District Judge Daniel L. Miller’s office.

They were arraigned on July 30 on the following charges:

  • Aggravated Assault, Felony 2 (three counts)
  • Burglary — Overnight Accommodation, Person Present, Felony 1
  • Robbery — Threat Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1 (three counts)
  • Criminal Attempt — Robbery — Threat Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
  • Conspiracy — Robbery-Threat Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
  • Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2
  • Criminal Trespass-Enter Structure, Felony 3
  • Escape, Felony 3
  • Firearms Not To Be Carried Without License, Felony 3
  • Terroristic Threats With Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (three counts)
  • Theft By Unlawful Taking Movable Prop, Misdemeanor 1
  • Possession Of Weapon, Misdemeanor 1
  • Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2 (three counts)

Unable to post $150,000.00 monetary bail each, Renaldi, Walden, and the 17-year-old were lodged in the Warren County Prison.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for September 27 with Judge Miller presiding.

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