BUTLER CO., Pa. (EYT) – A former park ranger is accused of taking property belonging to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) while he worked at Cook Forest State Park in Clarion County.
According to court documents, Butler-based State Police filed the following criminal charges against 52-year-old John Edward McAvoy Jr., of Slippery Rock:
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
Court documents indicate the charges were waived for court on May 8, 2018.
A formal arraignment is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on June 19 in front of The Honorable William Shaffer in Butler County Court.
McAvoy is free on $2,500.00 unsecured bail.
According to a published article on Butler Eagle, McAvoy allegedly stole property belonging to DCNC between 2013 and 2017 while serving as a park ranger at Cook Forest State Park.
Trooper Spisak, of PSP Butler, was assigned the case initiated by the Office of the State Inspector General.
Search warrants were executed at McAvoy’s home; his Brady Township, Butler County auto repair shop; and a storage unit in Liberty Township, Mercer County.
Authorities allegedly discovered the following property owned by DCNR at McAvoy’s residence: archery targets, arrows, bows, a combination safe, saw blades, a dining canopy, a pitchfork and kayak paddles.
A Trek mountain bike and a shovel that belonged to the DCNR was found at McAvoy’s Brady Township business.
DCNR’s antique cash register was one of the items discovered at McAvoy’s storage unit.
The suspected stolen property was valued at $2,789.00.
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