WINSLOW TWP., Pa. (EYT) – Two area residents are facing criminal charges related to the thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles at two Jefferson County businesses.
Court documents indicate the DuBois-based State Police filed criminal charges against 54-year-old Dana Lee Bortz and 48-year-old Jamie Brian Bortz, both of DuBois.
According to a criminal complaint, on February 6, DuBois-based State Police were dispatched to a business on US 322 in Winslow Township, Jefferson County, for a report of a theft from the business parking lot overnight.
According to the complaint, the business owner told police he had moved a customer’s 2014 GMC Terrain inside and noticed something was wrong. He reported the catalytic converter was missing, and that the catalytic converter was also missing from another vehicle, identified as a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox.
The complaint notes the owner stated no one was authorized to be on the property after the business closed, and the catalytic converters were there on the previous evening.
According to the complaint, on February 22, Dana Lee Bortz and Jamie Brian Bortz were arrested for another theft, and were then suspected of being involved with several other thefts involving catalytic converters.
Dana Bortz then reportedly admitted to stealing the catalytic converters from the Winslow Township business with Jamie Bortz, according to the complaint.
The complaint notes that on February 27, police received invoices from a known recycling business for 23 catalytic converters from throughout the month of February, as well as photos of Dana Bortz inside the building receiving payment.
The following charges were filed against Dana Bortz and Jamie Bortz through Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office on July 17:
– Theft by Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3
– Criminal Trespass/Simple Trespasser, Summary
According to a second complaint, on February 24, DuBois-based State Police were dispatched to a business on State Route 219 in Washington Township, Jefferson County, for a report of a theft.
At the scene, police spoke to a representative of the business who reported that she tried to move vehicles located in the business lot and noticed something was wrong with the vehicles. She said that when she checked under the vehicles, she discovered the catalytic converters were missing.
On February 22, Dana Lee Bortz and Jamie Brian Bortz were arrested for another theft and were then suspected of being involved with several other thefts involving catalytic converters, according to the complaint.
Dana Bortz then reportedly admitted to stealing the catalytic converters from the Washington Township business with Jamie Bortz, the complaint states.
The following charges were also filed against Dana and Jamie Bortz through Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office on July 17:
– Theft by Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)
– Criminal Trespass/Simple Trespasser, Summary
Preliminary hearings for the cases have not yet been scheduled.
Court documents indicate both Dana and Jamie Bortz also have theft cases pending in Clearfield County, while Dana Bortz also has a DUI case pending in Clarion County and another theft case pending in Jefferson County
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