SHAMOKIN - A woman who went to Shamokin Police Station Monday evening to report her 15-year-old daughter missing has been charged with stealing a patrolman's cell phone and causing damage to its components.
Robin Krych, 37, of 308 W. Mulberry St., Apt. 3, is in Northumberland County Prison after being arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on misdemeanors of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft of lost or mislaid property, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Krych was committed to prison after failing to post $15,000 cash bail at her 10:50 p.m. Monday arraignment.
She is charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano with stealing a Samsung Galaxy S4 cell phone owned by Patrolman William Miner and valued at $600. Miner dropped the phone at about 5:30 p.m. while talking to the defendant about her missing teen outside the police station at 511 N. Franklin St. He said he didn't realize he dropped the phone until a short time later.
Police said Krych initially denied taking the phone, but officers were later informed by an associate of Krych that she had possession of it. When police confronted Krych at her apartment, she admitted to the theft and granted permission to police to enter her residence, where the phone was found partially dismantled.
Police said components of the phone were being installed and downloaded to a computer. Police reported the "sim" card on the phone was damaged and the memory had been cleared.
At 9 p.m., Primerano, Miner, Cpl. Jarrod Scandle and Police Chief Edward Griffiths served a search warrant obtained from Gembic at Krych's apartment. In addition to recovering Miner's phone, police confiscated the computer, its accessories and memory devices. Police also discovered a plastic marijuana smoking pipe that said belongs to Krych.
When asked why she stole Miner's cell phone, Krych told police she wanted to clear out the memory and reuse it.
As for the missing teen, Miner said she was located and returned home.
Boyfriend charged
On Tuesday, Primerano also charged Krych's live-in boyfriend, Miguel Martinez, 36, with possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the search of the home.
Martinez was arraigned at about 4 p.m. by Gembic and committed to the county prison in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.
The corporal said Krych and Martinez previously lived in Florida, where Martinez has outstanding warrants pending.
