LEEPER, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion State Police investigation revealed that a Leeper man allegedly stole nearly $9,000.00 from his grandparents’ bank account.
Online court documents indicate Clarion-based State Police filed criminal charges against 38-year-old Justin Curtis Stark, of Leeper.
According to a criminal complaint, a known woman advised Officer Hotchkiss, of PSP Clarion, of Justin Stark’s involvement in the theft of a firearm. She also provided Officer Hotchkiss with Stark’s wallet in which she possessed since Stark was arrested on unrelated charges.
The complaint states that the known female provided Officer Hotchkiss with a handwritten letter from Stark stating that he had stolen thousands of dollars from his grandparents’ account. An examination of the wallet and inventory of the contents revealed 10 receipts of withdraws of currency from various ATM machines as well as purchases made using a credit/debit card.
Officer Hotchkiss interviewed a relative of Stark’s regarding the stolen firearm as well as unusual withdraws from Stark’s grandparents’ account. Officer Hotchkiss was provided with all transactions from the account, pointing out ones that are suspicious, the complaint states.
Officer Hotchkiss reviewed the account statement and compared the statement with the receipts located in Stark’s wallet. The 10 receipts located in the wallet were present on the statement of accounts. An examination of the statement revealed approximately 23 additional withdrawals totaling $8,625.62 and 12 attempted withdraws that were rejected, according to the complaint.
It was advised that Justin Stark was not authorized to use the credit/debit card for this account, the complaint continues.
Based on the investigation, a criminal complaint was filed against Stark in District Judge Duane L. Quinn’s office.
He was arraigned at 10:00 a.m. on September 29, on the following charges:
- Burglary — Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
- Theft By Unlawful Taking — Movable Property, Felony 3
- Access Device Issued to Another Who Did Not Authorize Use, Felony 3
Bail was set at $25,000.00 monetary.
Stark remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on October 11, in front of Judge Quinn.
Court records indicate that the case against Stark for allegedly conspiring to steal firearms from his grandfather has proceeded to the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
He is also facing court proceedings for allegedly dealing Heroin in Clarion Borough.
