Local Men Charged With Theft of Scrap Metal; Arraignments Set for Today

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published January 4, 2019 5:34 am
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STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — Two local men are facing arraignments today after allegedly stealing and selling scrap metal.

According to court documents preliminary arraignments for 23-year-old Dustin Lee Neyman, of Clarion, and 22-year-old Brandon Michael Sanford, of Franklin, are scheduled for Friday morning with Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn presiding.

The case stems from a November 1 report of the theft of scrap metal at a location on Rehobeth Road in Strattanville, Clarion County.

According to a criminal complaint, around 4:54 p.m. on November 1, 2018, Trooper Jarrett, of the Clarion-based State Police, was dispatched to the scene.

Trooper Jarrett spoke to the victim who reported that on October 31, he noticed some scrap metal that was on his property had gone missing from the field. The victim described the metal to be seven hot water tanks, four cookstoves, two refrigerators, and a Kenmore air conditioner. The victim said he remembered seeing a black PT Cruiser driving in the area several times prior to noticing the scrap missing.

The victim called a scrap metal company in Corsica to see if anyone driving a black PT Cruiser had brought in scrap metal in the past few days. The victim was told that the vehicle had been there several times recently. The victim asked what kind of metals the vehicle had brought in and was given a description that matched the metal that had been stolen from his property.

According to the complaint, the victim was told there were two males in the vehicle; one was identified as Dustin Neyman.

Around 11:30 a.m. on November 4, Neyman voluntarily arrived at the Clarion State Police barracks to speak to Trooper Jarrett about the incident; he brought Brandon Sanford with him.

According to the complaint, when asked if he knew the owner of the property in question, Neyman said, “No.” He related that he and Sanford talked to “a homeless guy” on the property because he gave the guy a ride. When asked if the person said it was their property, Neyman again said, “No,” and claimed the homeless person said they could take the metal.

The complaint states that Neyman went on to say that he returned to the property the next day and took two stoves and one refrigerator off the property in his PT Cruiser. He then took the scrap to the Corsica business and received between $30.00 and $40.00 for it.

Around 11:46 a.m. on November 4, Trooper Jarrett interviewed Sanford.

According to the complaint, Sanford related that he and Neyman had only taken two freezers and a water tank and stated that he went to his father’s and got two stoves and a microwave to take in. Sanford confirmed that they received between $30.00 and $40.00 for everything.

Neyman and Sanford both provided written statements.

According to the complaint, Neyman and Sandford’s stories did not coincide, with Neyman stating they had taken two stoves and a refrigerator, while Sanford stated they had taken two freezers and a water tank. Sanford also stated that he had taken two stoves and a microwave from his father’s property, which were also items stolen from the victim’s property.

On December 21, Trooper Jarrett contacted the scrap metal company about the incident and spoke to an employee who indicated that he remembered Neyman and Sanford coming in a total of five times with scrap and receiving between $30.00 to $40.00 each time.

Based on the investigation, one second-degree misdemeanor count of Theft of Secondary Metal was filed against each Sanford and Neyman on Thursday, December 27, in Judge Quinn’s office.

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