PORTER TWP. Jefferson Co., Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing felony charges following an investigation of a burglary in which a residence sustained over $8,000 in damages.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney-based State Police filed criminal charges against 21-year-old Drew Patrick Maines, of Punxsutawney.
According to a criminal complaint, on May 27, 2019, Trooper Suprano of the Punxsutawney-based State Police was assigned to investigate a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Windy Whiz Road in Punxsutawney.
The complaint states a witness had advised two males in their early twenties had fled the scene in a flat black sedan with black and fluorescent pink/bright orange rims. The vehicle was described as having dents down the side of the vehicle, and the driver’s side door handle matches the rims. The witness also had direct face-to-face interaction with the suspects and had confronted them in person.
Trooper Suprano also interviewed a second witness who reported having seen suspicious activity in the area a week prior to the reported burglary. The second witness reported witnessing a black spray-painted sedan with orange or pink wheels in the area, driving past his residence. The witness said he then found “KKK” spray-painted on a large rock near his residence in bright fluorescent orange paint.
At the victim’s residence, Trooper Suprano found no one inside, but observed substantial damage to the interior of the residence. According to the complaint, motor oil was spilled throughout the residence, including the living room and kitchen floors, where it saturated the carpeting. The kitchen cabinets were broken, pictures and picture frames were broken, and mirrors were shattered. The walls were graffitied with fluorescent orange and pink spray-paint including obscenities, “KKK,” and a swastika symbol.
The complaint states evidence on the scene indicated someone had forced entry into the residence through the side door, which lead to an enclosed sunroom, near where the first witness had observed Maines’ vehicle parked. Large white trash bags filled with DVD movies were found inside, and numerous DVDs were scattered through the residence, displaced from their original storage location on shelves. The complaint notes it appeared the DVDs had been packaged in garbage bags and staged near the doorway where the forced entry was suspected to have occurred.
On May 29, Trooper Suprano spoke to the victim, who indicated the house was in such disarray she could not determine if items inside were missing or stolen. She was, however, able to provide an invoice sheet for the total amount of damages, repair, and cleaning needed. The invoice indicated a total of $8,966.64 in damages.
The description of the suspect vehicle was disseminated throughout the Punxsutawney-based State Police Patrol Section. The multiple witness accounts of the vehicle indicated it was a spray-painted or primer black finished sedan, possibly a Nissan, Toyota, or Mazda, with bring pink/orange colored rims, bright pink/orange colored driver’s side door handle, and large dents along the body of the vehicle.
On June 16, Cpl. Means of the Punxsutawney-based State Police contacted Trooper Suprano to advise he had located a Nissan Altima parked along Altman Avenue Extension and Juneau Road which matched the unique description of the vehicle through to be connected to the burglary. The registration was checked and the vehicle was found to belong to Drew Patrick Maines.
On June 16, the first witness also called and notified Trooper Suprano she had observed the vehicle, which she positively identified as the same one used during the time of the burglary, parked along Juneau Road and Altman Avenue Extension.
According to the complaint, on August 13, the first witness positively identified Maines from a photo lineup as one of the suspects who was present during the time of the burglary.
Maines was then apprehended and arrested on November 15, in relation to a separate investigation. He was then questioned regarding the burglary investigation, and confirmed he previously owned the Nissan that was spray-painted black with bright orange colored wheels/rims.
According to the complaint, Maines stated he never allowed anyone else to operate his vehicles and said he had since discarded it because the engine “blew up.” He noted the vehicle broke down along Altman Avenue Extension and Juneau Road, where it was discovered by Cpl. Means.
Maines was then questioned about his role in the burglary, and allegedly denied any involvement. The complaint notes he stated “do you have any idea what it’s like being an addict,” and insisted he could not remember. He also allegedly explained that he has difficulty remembering day-to-day activities as a result of his drug use and addiction. He was also unwilling to discuss the identification of the second individual who was believed to have participated in the burglary.
The complaint notes the paint used was similar to that used on a vehicle belonging to Drew Patrick Maines.
The following charges were filed through Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on January 14:
– Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
– Criminal Trespass-Break Into Structure, Felony 2
– Criminal Mischief, Felony 3
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Felony 3
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 3, with Judge Mizerock presiding.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
