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Adam Bennett, 18, 682 Treasure Lake, 811 St. Barthelemy Road, DuBois, is charged with criminal conspiracy to receive stolen property, receiving stolen property and making unsworn falsification to authorities. His bail was set at $5,000, straight.
James Simunovich, 18, 1490 Treasure Lake, 760 Bucco Reef Road, DuBois, is charged with receiving stolen property. His bail was set at $25,000, unsecured.
A third man, Bruce Coffey, 20, 400 Pifer St., DuBois, who is charged with criminal conspiracy to receive stolen property, receiving stolen property and making unsworn falsification to authorities, had his preliminary hearing continued until Dec. 4.
According to a previously published Courier-Express article, also charged in connection with this case are three male juveniles, one from Reynoldsville and two from Treasure Lake, for their roles in the thefts of jewelry as well as several other thefts that occurred in Treasure Lake in October.
Sandy Township police said one or more of the persons charged are believed to be responsible for multiple thefts in Treasure Lake over the last year and have been persons of interest for some time. Police said that during their investigation, information was received with regard to planned burglaries in Treasure Lake, including the Lake View Lodge. Surveillance was conducted and the arrests were made.
The criminal complaint states that on Oct. 19, two victims in Treasure Lake reported that their unlocked vehicles had been entered. The first victim said she was missing a silver IPOD worth $350. The second victim said two rings and an earring were taken from her purse which was then thrown in front of the residence. The jewelry was valued at between $23,000 and $25,500.
Later that day, police say Coffey and several juveniles went to Kay Jewelers in the DuBois Mall and tried to sell one of the rings. The employee, who was also the victim, said Coffey asked her if they buy jewelry and showed her the ring, which she recognized as her own. Coffey told her they were college students who needed money for rent and to pay bills. As they talked, another employee went to the back of the store and called police. One of the juveniles told police the ring was his and that he got it from his grandmother.
In an interview with police, Coffey said he was at the park with the juveniles when one of them pulled the ring from his pocket. He said he wanted to get money for it. Coffey offered to take it to the store for him. He denied any involvement in the theft of the ring as he only saw it that day in the park.
One of the juveniles told police he was at the park with Coffey when Coffey saw the ring on his finger and took it off. Coffey wanted to take it to the mall to see how much it was worth so he could sell it on eBay. This juvenile also admitted to having a green IPOD which was taken in another burglary. The silver IPOD was also recovered.
On Nov. 5, police received a tip that Bennett and one of the juveniles had pawned a diamond ring in Bloomsburg. After further investigation, the second ring was found at a jewelry store there. The owner of the store said he bought it from Bennett, who gave him his photo identification. An employee of the store identified Simunovich as being with Bennett in the store when the ring was sold.
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By Julie Rae Rickard, Tri-County Sunday. E-mail jrickard@thecourierexpress.com.
