SHAMOKIN - A 25-year-old Coal Township man charged with multiple theft and drug offenses involving six complaints waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday and remained free on unsecured bail.
Ryan J. Thomas, of 1213 W. Walnut St., agreed to send all his criminal cases to the Court of Common Pleas in Sunbury. Thomas, who was represented by Attorney Vincent V. Rovito Jr. of Shamokin, was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for plea court Feb. 25, at which time he can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
Thomas is charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with felony burglary and criminal trespass as well as misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly breaking into the home of Loretta and James Buggy, 1901 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 11 and stealing $198 and a prescription pill bottle containing Ativan.
He is charged by Brennan with two misdemeanor counts of theft and one count of receiving stolen property for allegedly participating in the theft of $1,500 worth of tools and a CD player from a car owned by James Conbeer parked in the 900 block of West Juniper Street sometime between 7:30 and 11 p.m. Aug. 14. He and a co-defendant took the stolen goods to sell at a Shamokin pawn shop, police said.
Thomas also is charged by Brennan with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia after he overdosed Oct. 20 at his home, police said.
The defendant is charged by Coal Township Patrolman Jason Adams with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass. He is accused of removing two stain-glass windows from a vacant property at 1301 W. Walnut St. owned by Stephen Slodysko and selling them to Odds and Ends Antiques and Collectibles in Shamokin.
Police said the crimes were committed between Aug. 1 and Aug. 27.
Thomas is charged by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn with unauthorized use of a vehicle owned by Tyler Griffiths that was reported stolen Aug. 12 from Mulberry and Poplar streets.
He also is charged by Trooper Thomas Leib of state police at Stonington with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, failure to display a driver's license and failure to wear a seat belt involving an Aug. 12 incident on Route 2044 in Zerbe Township, approximately one-half mile south of Trevorton.