District Court: Aleppo Man Accused in Vehicle Thefts

A preliminary hearing was postponed earlier this week for an Aleppo man accused of stealing a sport utility vehicle and various items from cars in a township neighborhood, according to court reports. 

Craig Anthony Moore, 27, Rhodes Avenue, is charged with two counts of theft, and one count each of receiving stolen property, access device fraud and providing false identification to law enforcement.

Ohio Township police said Moore stole a parked vehicle Feb. 7 from the 100 block of McCoy Place in Aleppo. Police said the 2012 Kia Sorento had been left unlocked with the keys inside.  

Police said items were also missing from other vehicles in the neighborhood, including an iPod, a GPS, and a watch.

On Feb. 8, Robinson Township police found Moore passed out in the stolen vehicle on Campbells Run Road. They took him to the police station.

Police said Moore first called himself by his brother’s name, but later admitted to stealing the vehicle where they found him and to taking several items from various vehicles in the neighborhood. Police said Moore also used someone’s credit card to charge $1,685 in food, pillows, towels and other household items at Walmart, Target and possibly a gas station.

Police recovered several items from his home. Moore is also facing theft and other charges filed by Moon Police, who say he walked around a residential plan, taking items from at least 10 unlocked vehicles. Moore is scheduled to appear Feb. 21 in Coraopolis District Court for a preliminary hearing in that case.

The hearing at Leetsdale District Court has been postponed until Feb. 28.

The following people were charged and scheduled for preliminary hearings Feb. 14 at District Judge Robert Ford's office in Leetsdale:

Waived

• Dawn Penzera, 39, of Greensburg, charged with two counts of theft and one count of providing false identification to law enforcement. Bell Acres police reported that Penzera, a former food manager at a local golf club, deposited into her personal account an $1,800 check from the Sewickley Golf Club that was meant to pay an entertainment company for services provided Aug. 26.

• Chris Wieder, 37, of Pittsburgh, charged with driving under the influence and driving on the wrong side of the road. Franklin Park police reported they saw Wieder’s car Dec. 2 on the wrong side of Rochester Road. Police reported Wieder’s breathalyzer results at 0.216 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.

• Joseph Warick, 57, of Sewickley Hills, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence, disorderly conduct. Ohio Township police received a report of an erratic driver on Mt. Nebo Road on Nov. 20. Police said the license plate was registered to Warick, who was located on Magee Road. Police said he refused to stop for officers and continued onto Sewickley Hills Drive before pulling into a driveway.  Police said Warick refused a blood-alcohol test.

• Daniel Ream, 22, of Ambridge, charged with driving under the influence. Leetsdale police reported Ream’s car stopped Dec. 16 after his car was seen tailgating other vehicles on Route 65 in the borough. Police said Ream submitted to a blood-alcohol test, but they did not report the results.

• Tess Jurecko, 19, of Wexford, charged with possession of marijuana, driving under the influence and speeding. State police reported Jurecko’s vehicle was speeding Nov. 14 on Interstate 79 in Franklin Park before the Wexford exit. Police said they measured Jurecko's speed at 110 mph before they stopped her. Police said they found a small amount of marijuana in Jurecko’s purse. A blood test was positive for marijuana, police said.

Held

• Joshua Shay, 27, of Oil City, Venango County, charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while suspended and speeding. State police reported Shay’s vehicle was located Aug. 1 in a parking lot off the Wexford exit of Interstate 79 in Franklin Park. Police said the vehicle had passenger-side damage and matched the description of a car involved in a hit-and-run crash. Police said a blood test showed the presence of opiates and morphine in Shay’s system.

Postponed

• Brandon Batista, 19, of Cranberry Township, charged with driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding. State police reported Batista was stopped Nov. 6 on Interstate 79 in Franklin Park, about a mile from the exit. Police said they measured his speed at 35 miles above the speed limit and his vehicle crossed the yellow lines a few times.  Police said they also found marijuana, a digital scale, plastic sandwich bags and a glass pipe. Police said Batista’s blood test showed a positive result for the presence of marijuana.