Men charged in Forest City burglary

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

Three Susquehanna County men have been charged with burglary and criminal trespass in connection with items missing from a vacant residence in Forest City.

Joel Lehr, 22; Tex Brown, 27; and Mark Freeman, 37, all listed as residents of 253 Hudson St., Forest City, were arraigned this week before Magisterial District Judge Suzanne Brainard in connection with a May 21 incident.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Forest City police say that tracing the registration papers of a motor scooter recovered by State Police led them to a Forest City residence at 105 Maxey Street which had been previously occupied but the resident was now deceased.

Upon opening the garage door of the residence, police discovered a 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup that had all four wheels and tires taken from it with evidence someone had attempted to hotwire the vehicle.

It was also clear that the house had been ransacked and a jewelry box emptied, with stolen items and damage done to the vehicle amounting to approximately $8,500.

The affidavit said that police had received a tip that Lehr had been seen rolling the tires out of the residence.

Prints also taken at the scene by police matched those given by Lehr, the affidavit says.

Lehr is in the Susquehanna County Jail, unable to post $100,000 bail. Bail was set at $25,000 for Brown and Freeman.

All three men’s preliminary hearings before Judge Brainard are set for Tuesday.