RIMERSBURG, Pa. (EYT) — A Rimersburg man is facing charges after he allegedly stole items from a woman’s yard and then sold them for scrap.
According to court documents, the Clarion-based State Police filed the following criminal charges against 55-year-old William R. Brown, of Rimersburg:
– Theft of Secondary Metal, Misdemeanor 3
– Defiant Trespass Actual Communication, Misdemeanor 3
According to a criminal complaint, on February 26, Trooper McGinnis, of the Clarion-based State Police, spoke with a known female victim who reported that her black charcoal grill was missing from her front yard that day, as well as a metal drainage pipe from the side of her driveway. The victim stated the grill was old and worth approximately $10.00 and the drainage pipe was old and rusty and worth approximately $30.00.
When the victim noticed the items missing, she called her son-in-law and her landlord, who were both at the residence when Trooper McGinnis arrived.
According to the complaint, the victim’s son-in-law stated that he called William Brown, one of the landlord’s other tenants, and asked if he had any information about the missing grill and pipe.
Brown allegedly told the victim’s son-in-law that he had taken the grill and the drainage pipe because he thought the victim had moved out of the residence, the complaint states.
Trooper McGinnis then spoke to the landlord who stated she had problems with Brown in the past, according to the complaint.
The landlord reported that Brown entered the victim’s premise after being told repeatedly by the landlord that he is not permitted there. The landlord also reported that neither she nor her husband gave permission for anyone to take any items from the premises.
The complaint also notes there are clearly posted no trespassing signs at the entrance of the driveway of the residence.
Trooper McGinnis then went to Brown’s residence to speak to him.
According to the complaint, Brown stated that he took the grill and the drainage pipe from the victim’s property and that he took both items to a local scrap yard, where he received $22.00 for the metal.
Based on the investigation, charges were filed in Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller’s office on Wednesday, March 20:
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, with Judge Miller presiding.