Two plead to string of thefts

BY STACI WILSON

Two men admitted in court Friday to their involvement in a string of 2009 Susquehanna County thefts – which included two cows and two calves.

Brent Vanteger, 27, Kingsley, and Jerry Stines, 43,Hendersonville,N.C., both told the court that, in addition to the bovines, items taken in the thefts included a lawn tractor, tools, copper tubing and fencing.

A third man also alleged to be involved in the theft ring, Jason Ross, is currently awaiting trial.

The thefts occurred in the Harford, Lenox, Jackson, Gibson,Great Bendand Dimock areas.

Vanteger pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft by unlawful taking lodged against him in eight separate cases.

As part of a plea deal, Assistant District Attorney Marion O’Malley said Vanteger’s sentences will run concurrent with each other.

He has also agreed to pay his part of restitution owed to the victims.

Vanteger is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20.

Stines pleaded guilty to four counts of receiving stolen property in four separate cases.

As part of the plea deal, he was sentenced to serve a four-year probationary sentence that is to run concurrent with a sentence handed down by the court in March.

He also agreed to pay his part of the restitution in the cases.

Stines said he was currently in the process of transferring his probation toHendersonCountyfrom his previous sentence. President Judge Kenneth Seamans granted Stines’ request to apply to also have the latest probation transferred to Henderson County, N.C.

The judge also warned Stines that if he violated his probation the court could send him to prison for up to 22 years.

Stines told the court that he had never been in trouble before and promised to “make things right.”