WARSAW TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A man and woman, both of DuBois, have been charged with criminal trespass and burglary after police found one of them in the basement of a vacant house.
According to a criminal complaint filed on January 9, Pennsylvania State Police troopers have arrested 39-year-old Norman Edward Byerly and 22-year-old Paige Larue Pearsall, both of DuBois, on multiple counts following an incident the previous day inside a home on Egypt Road, Warsaw Township, Jefferson County.
Around 4:06 p.m. on January 8, a trooper was dispatched to a residence on Egypt Road following a report of a possible burglary at a vacant residence. A second trooper arrived around 4:30 p.m. The troopers observed a white Buick Ranier behind the back of the residence near a pond on the property. They ran the plate, which came back registered to a Chevrolet in Reynoldsville, Pa.
The troopers checked the VIN on the Buick, which came back with a different plate number.
Footprints were observed heading from the barn to the residence. Troopers followed them and entered the home through an unlocked door leading to the mud room. They observed items disheveled throughout the home, the complaint states.
After clearing the first and second floors of the home, the troopers entered the basement where they saw a closed door. After opening the door, they encountered Byerly, who identified himself and provided his date of birth. A glass smoking device was located inside an empty pack of Newport cigarettes on the floor beside Byerly after he came out of the room, according to the complaint.
When asked what he was doing inside the residence, Byerly related that he got into an argument with his wife at their residence the previous day, January 7, and that he needed to get away for a while to “vent.” He drove his wife’s Buick SUV to the residence on Egypt Road that night around 10:00 p.m. At that time, he said he got the vehicle stuck behind the barn and had called a friend to get him out, the complaint states.
Byerly said he walked to his friend’s house because he didn’t have a phone. He then related that he asked his friend to borrow a license plate because his wife had taken off the plate that belongs to the vehicle, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, Byerly related he knew the area where he was going and knew that nobody was staying at the residence. He related that he knew it was a dumb mistake, and “knew that he did wrong to go into the residence.”
Byerly told troopers that a female named “Paige” was with him and added that she came along with him for someone to “vent” to, the complaint notes.
The complaint states that Byerly told the troopers that when they arrived, they found a window in the front of the house that was partially cracked. He opened the window and Paige went through the opening. She then opened the front door for him to come inside.
Byerly was transported back to the PSP barracks at DuBois for an interview, the complaint notes.
Upon further interview, Byerly said he and Paige went to Falls Creek. He said they stayed in Falls Creek for a little while, then left in his wife’s white Buick Ranier SUV. They eventually went to the residence on Egypt Road, where they ended up staying for the night. According to Byerly, Paige was there the entire time he was, the complaint states.
When they heard police inside the house, Byerly said that he and Paige went their separate ways inside the house. He said she either ran out of the house or was hiding somewhere inside, the complaint continues.
Byerly did not know Paige’s last name, but thought it started with the letter P. He described her as approximately 5′ 5″ tall with a thin build and a gauge in her ear. She was wearing a tassel hat with a zip-up sweatshirt and had a black backpack, according to the complaint.
On January 9, around 10:55 a.m., one of the troopers spoke to a witness via telephone. The witness stated that a female had come to her door and rang the doorbell. The female stated that she fell into a pond and needed a ride. She had a little red gas can in her hand. She was wearing a black backpack and a jacket with a hood. She stated that she had lost her cell phone in the pond and was trying to get it. The witness said the female stated that her name was Paige, the complaint notes.
Around 11:12 a.m. on the same day, the trooper spoke to a second witness on the phone. The witness stated that a female came to his door and said she was with her boyfriend, they got pulled over by police, and her boyfriend had a warrant and was taken to jail. The witness said that the woman, whose name was Paige, told him that they borrowed a license plate from a buddy because the SUV they were driving did not have one. The woman had dirty blonde hair and was approximately 5′ 7″ tall with a thinner build, but not skinny. She had a large tattoo on her lower breastbone, approximately 6 to 8 inches wide. She had a black backpack and was carrying a red gas can. She asked the witness for a ride to DuBois, which he gave her. He said he dropped her off on Orange Street in DuBois City, according to the complaint.
Byerly was arraigned on January 9 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Gregory M. Bazylak. Pearsall was arraigned the same day at 3:30 p.m.
Byerly has been charged with the following crimes:
- Burglary – Overnight Accomodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
- Criminal Trespass – Break Into Structure, Felony 2
- Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
- Trespass by Motor Vehicle, Summary
- Operation of Vehicle Without Required Financial Responsibility, Summary
- Driving While Operation Privileges Suspended or Revoked, Summary
- Display Plate Card in Improper Vehicle, Summary
Pearsall has been charged with the following crimes:
- Burglary – Overnight Accomodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
- Criminal Trespass – break Into Structure, Felony 2
According to court records, neither Byerly nor Pearsall could post bail, which was set at $25,000.00 each. Both are currently lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for February 9 at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Bazylak.
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