SHAMOKIN - Two people accused of burglarizing the property of a deceased neighbor waived their rights to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.
n Christen Gearhart, 18, and Justin N. Valerio, 21, both of 150 S. Pearl St., Shamokin, are accused of breaking into 154 S. Pearl St. in the early morning hours of May 29. A witness called police to report the alleged break-in and officers reportedly took the two into custody after they were found hiding inside the home's attic.
The former owner of 154 S. Pearl St. died in March.
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. By waiving the hearing, the charges are moved to Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, for adjudication.
Gearhart and Valerio have been held in Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, since their arrest May 29 in lieu of $50,000 bail. They were each released Tuesday on supervised bail.
The disposition of other cases held Tuesday before Gembic are as follows:
n Aaron Keith Brannon, 27, of 809 N. Fourth St., Sunbury, waived two drunk driving charges and four summary traffic violations, and remained free on $2,500 unsecured bail. He was arrested by state police at Stonington following a traffic stop April 13 along Route 61 near Hollow Road in Shamokin Township.
n Conchetta A. O'Connell, 20, of 1012 W. Lynn St., Coal Township, waived charges of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of automobiles, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy to commit theft, and remained free on $2,500 unsecured bail. She is accused of stealing a pickup truck from Tharptown on March 26 which was found the next day stuck in the area of Stoney Point in the Springfield section of Coal Township. Charges were filed by township police on May 6.
n Juan C. Rodriquez, 28, of 12 N. Anthracite St., Shamokin, waived charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment, and remained free on $2,500 unsecured bail. He is accused of throwing and smashing items inside 17 E. Church St., Shamokin, and throwing items through a second-story window in the early morning hours of May 1 during a domestic dispute.
n James Beach, 45, of 1201 W. Pine St., Coal Township, waived charges of accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle or structure, careless driving and failure to stop or render aid, and remained free on $2,500 unsecured bail. He is accused of striking another vehicle while driving north on Route 61 near the Route 901 junction and failing to stop and provide information on March 2. The charges were filed by Coal Township police on March 18.
n Kenneth A. Latshaw, 38, of 804 W. Fifth St., Mount Carmel, waived one count of felony retail theft. He is accused of stealing $350.45 in merchandise from Wal-Mart Supercenter, Route 61, Coal Township, on April 4. The charge was filed April 22.
n One count of possession of a controlled substance was held for court against Christopher M. Clark, 26, of 220 N. Vine St., Shamokin. He did not appear for the preliminary hearing, which was held in absentia. The charge was filed by Shamokin Police after Clark was allegedly found in possession on April 30 of one Focalin pill, for which he did not have a prescription.