WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A woman who took equipment from a camp in Washington Township and then sold it to a contractor is scheduled to be sentenced today.
According to court documents, 44-year-old Melody D. Diirner, of Oil City, is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 10, in front of Clarion County President Judge James G. Arner.
Court documents indicate Diirner pleaded guilty to one first-degree misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
She remains free on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
The charge stems from an investigation into a theft that occurred in the Washington Township, Clarion County area in the summer of 2018.
According to a criminal complaint, Trooper Weaver, of the Marienville-based State Police, was dispatched on September 2, 2018, to a report of a theft at the above-described location.
Two known victims reported multiple items, including various tools and construction equipment, were stolen from their camp. The victims provided a list of the stolen items that included an aluminum metal brake the complaint states.
The complaint indicates that one of the victims stated that Melody Diirner, Jason Diirner, and another known individual had been staying at their camp. The victim further related that they began to notice items were coming up missing towards the end of July of 2018. The victim then noted that “Melody Diirner and Jason Diirner have a bad history of theft, so they decided to ‘kick them out’ of the camp.”
The victim also stated that a local contractor had contacted them and provided them with a receipt showing that he bought an aluminum brake, a leaf blower, and a weed eater from Melody Diirner and Jason Diirner for $375.00. The victims reported that they had confirmed that the aluminum brake was theirs after the contractor described it to them. The victims turned over the receipt to Trooper Weaver.
According to the complaint, it was learned that the blower and weed eater belonged to another victim in a separate theft investigation.
On September 11, Trooper Weaver spoke to the contractor who reported that he bought the aluminum brake, leaf blower, and weed eater from Melody Diirner and Jason Diirner on August 17, according to the complaint.
The contractor went on to state that Jason Diirner told him that he was quitting his contracting business and was selling all of his equipment. The contractor reported that he obtained the receipt for the items on August 24, when he finished paying for them. He noted that Melody Diirner was present at that time and accepted payment for the items.
The contractor also related that he learned that the items might be stolen. He then immediately contacted the Franklin-based State Police and also contacted the victims who were able to confirm that the aluminum brake was theirs.
Melody Diirner was arraigned at 2:40 p.m. on Friday, November 2.
Charges against 42-year-old Jason Diirner were transferred to Clarion County Court of Common Pleas on March 13. A criminal conference for him is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 10 in the District Attorney’s office.
He is currently lodged in the Clarion County Jail on $25,000.00 monetary bail.
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