SHAMOKIN - Two young tenants of a city rental home allegedly broke into a neighboring property to rummage through items left behind by a recently deceased homeowner.
Christen Gearhart, 18, and Justin N. Valerio, 21, both of 150 S. Pearl St., were found hiding in the attic of 154 S. Pearl St. after a witness called police to report a break-in shortly before midnight Tuesday, according to court papers.
City police were assisted by officers from Coal Township and Ralpho Township in setting up a perimeter around the home. Three officers entered the home through a door and a window and found the two alleged burglars in the attic.
The former owner of 154 S. Pearl St. died in March.
Gearhart and Valerio were handcuffed and transported to the city police station, where each gave a statement admitting they were inside the home, according to court papers.
Both said they were looking through pots and pans, with Gearhart adding she was looking at lamps and knickknacks, "anything nice to put in my house."
Gearhart and Valerio are each charged by Shamokin Police Cpl. Jarrod Scandle with one felony count of burglary and a misdemeanor count of loitering and prowling at night time.
The pair were arraigned Tuesday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin, and remanded to Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
They were taken aback by the amount of bail owed, with each saying theirs was a first offense.
"I guess there's a first time for everything," Valerio said of facing the next week in county prison ahead of a preliminary hearing set for June 4.
"I don't understand," Gearhart said after Gembic set bail and briefly left the courtroom.
"What's not to understand? You're charged with a felony and you're going to jail," Shamokin Patrolman Scott Weaver replied.
