CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The cases against three men involved in a spree of thefts from vehicles in Clarion last summer are nearing closure.
(Pictured above: left to right — Conner Nogel, Austen Rowe, and Alexander Aites)
According to court documents, Conner James Nogel, 22, of New Bethlehem, and Austen J. Rowe, 21, and 18-year-old Alexander Michael Aites, 18, both of Pittsburgh, have entered pleas regarding their respective involvement in two incidents in the borough in August of 2017.
Conner Nogel case:
Court documents indicate that Conner Nogel pleaded guilty on February 21 to a first-degree misdemeanor count of theft from a motor vehicle.
Sentencing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, with President Judge James G. Arner presiding.
Nogel remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail on $50,000.00 monetary bail.
Austen Rowe case:
On October 4, 2017, Rowe pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy — theft by unlawful taking on August 15.
He received a minimum of nine months to one year, 11 months, 29 days as well as five years probation.
On January 24, Rowe pleaded guilty to two first-degree misdemeanor counts of theft from a motor vehicle on August 2.
He was sentenced to a minimum of eight months and a maximum of two years.
The sentences will be served consecutively.
Alexander Aites case:
On February 21 Aites pleaded guilty to two first-degree misdemeanor counts of theft from a motor vehicle from incidents dated August 2, 2017, and August 15, 2017.
Aites will be sentenced at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28.
He has been free on $25,000.00 cash bail since August 23.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 2:30 p.m. on August 15, the Clarion Police Department was dispatched to a jewelry store on Main Street for a report of two individuals attempting to sell a stolen ring.
The Clarion County Office of Emergency Services reported that one male was wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, and the other male was wearing a gray shirt with brown shorts.
Officers Zerfoss and Kemmer and Chief Peck responded. Officer Kemmer drove to the rear of the building while Officer Zerfoss and Chief Peck entered in the front of the store.
According to the complaint, the owner of the store said that on August 14 he reported an incident to Officer Zerfoss about a ring that was stolen from his vehicle which was parked on Elss Street in Clarion. He said approximately 10 minutes ago, he had two white males come into the store with a ring they wanted to sell him, and once he saw the ring, he knew it was the one that belonged to his girlfriend that he reported stolen.
Chief Peck and Officer Zerfoss spoke to the two males at the front of the store. The first male was identified asAusten Rowe who was wearing a white T-shirt, and the second male was identified as Alexander Aites who was wearing a gray shirt with brown shorts.
When first questioned, Rowe stated that he found the ring lying along the roadway.
Rowe and Aites were separated, and Aites allegedly admitted to taking the ring from a parked vehicle which was parked along Elss Street. He stated that Rowe entered the vehicle and removed the ring.
Both men were then taken into custody.
Aites’ vehicle was searched. A small baggie of marijuana, a Sony camera, two BB guns, a safe with money inside, a plastic container with change inside, brass knuckles and scales were discovered inside the vehicle and taken to the station for evidence, the complaint stated.
Aites’ Interview
The complaint states that Officer Kemmer interviewed Aites on August 15.
Aites stated that on August 12 and into August 13, he, Rowe and Conner Nogel were bored and decided to walk around Clarion. He drove his vehicle, a red Chevrolet truck, and parked it somewhere near the Clarion University. All three of them walked around Clarion for approximately two hours looking for vehicles that were unlocked.
At one point, they walked down Center Place and onto Elss Street, and they found a vehicle that was unlocked; they found a ring inside the vehicle. Rowe grabbed the ring, and they all took off walking again. Aites then walked on Third Avenue, found a purse in a vehicle and took it.
The three men walked all over Clarion and found two more (unlocked) vehicles – one was located on South Seventh Avenue, and they removed coins and change. They located another vehicle on Campbell Avenue and removed a Sony camera from it.
Aites stated that from 11:30 p.m. on August 12th to 5:00 a.m. on August 13, they entered approximately 20 to 25 vehicles.
Rowe’s Interview
According to the complaint, Chief Peck interviewed Rowe on August 15.
Rowe stated that on Sunday night, he, Aites, and Nogel entered parked cars within Clarion.
He estimated that they entered approximately 35 vehicles that included $315.00 in cash, $58.00 in change, a gun clip, a camera, a ring, a marijuana pipe, cigarettes, and an iPod.
He stated that they took the collected change to Walmart early Monday morning and cashed it in and split the money up evenly among the three of them.
The Clarion Borough Police Department received four total reports of vehicles being entered and items stolen during this time frame.
