Tioga County Police & Court

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Elkland man charged with burglary

ELKLAND - Raymond Edwin Harding III, 20, of 226 E. River St., Elkland, was charged by state police at Mansfield with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and conspiring to burglary.

According to Elkland District Court documents, between June 2 and June 3, 2008, Harding and Reed Moran, 20, of 287 Yahor Road, Gaines, broke into a garage at 1024 Boatman Road in Deerfield Township, from which they stole two 5-gallon buckets of copper fittings and two tool boxes with tools, all worth $500, then entered the residence after which they opened and dumped the contents of every drawer in the house. They also ate food while there and made drawings on the wall "so insulin syringes could be used like darts," police said. In all, they allegedly caused about $1,000 in damage.

Moran was arrested on Aug. 18, with a preliminary arraignment held that same date. At that time, Moran told police that Harding was with him, according to court documents. Moran was committed to Tioga County Prison on $50,000 bail on Sept. 3 at a preliminary hearing he waived before District Judge Brian Edgcomb. He was arraigned Sept. 28 before Tioga County President Judge Robert E. Dalton Jr.

Harding was interviewed on Oct. 9 at the Elkland Borough Police station and admitted to being with Moran. Harding was arrested on Nov. 4, committed to Tioga County Prison on $50,000 bail and released on Nov. 5 on modified $5,000 bail at the request of his lawyer. He waived a preliminary hearing before District Judge Brian Edgcomb on Thursday, with an arraignment set for Dec. 14 before Dalton Jr.

Lawrenceville man charged with stealing mother's car

ELKLAND - Jeffrey Michael Blair, 19, of 5 Cowanesque St., Lawrenceville, was charged by state police in Mansfield with theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of an automobile and purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of alcohol by a minor.

According to Elkland District Court records, he stole a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owned by his mother, Laurie Jo Blair, no age given, same residence on Nov. 16. Police report he admitted to consuming "a couple of beers" upon returning with the car to the house later that night.

He was released on $2,500 bail unsecured, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday to be continued until as of yet unscheduled date.

Westfield man charged with resisting arrest

ELKLAND - Joel D. Freeman, 29, of 167 W. Main St., Westfield, was charged by Westfield Police with resisting arrest, loitering and prowling at nighttime, harassment and public drunkenness.

According to Elkland District Court records, on Nov. 15, Freeman resisted arrest from police who were called to the scene of a domestic at Freeman's residence. He first fled the scene and later was arrested with the help of another officer, according to police.

A preliminary hearing set for Thursday was rescheduled on Dec. 3 before District Justice Brian Edgcomb.

Millerton man charged with simple assault

ELKLAND - Joseph Frances Derenzo, 18, of 1862 Route 328, Millerton, was charged by state police in Mansfield with simple assault, harassment, and purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of alcohol by a minor.

According to Elkland District Court documents, on Nov. 1, Derenzo punched Troy Timothy Heck, no age given, at Heck's residence at 411 School House Road, Apt. 2, Lawrence Township, several times in the face. The two had been drinking a vodka mixture called "jungle juice," according to police, and the fight was over $18 that Derenzo claimed Heck owed him.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7 before District Judge Brian Edgcomb.