Sewickley Man Heads to Trial on Silverware Burglary Charges

A Sewickley man accused of is headed for trial.

Brian Ramoutar, 22, of Beaver Street, appeared in Leetsdale District Court last week and waived all charges to court, including two counts of burglary, two counts of theft, and one count each of receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sewickley police arrested Ramoutar on Dec. 15 after receiving a tip that he took several pieces of silver from a home in the 900 block of Beaver Street, police said. Police said the victim told officers on Dec. 5 that she realized silver was missing while preparing for a dinner party. Ten days later she confronted Ramoutar believing he may have been involved.

Police said Ramoutar agreed to be interviewed and admitted to the burglaries. He was also found with two needles and a burnt spoon during a search of his bag at the station, police said.

Police said Ramoutar went to the victim’s home sometime in October when he thought no one was there and stole a tea pot, two candle sticks and a handful of silverware. Police said he returned to the home in November and took a handful of silverware.

Police said some of the $25,000 in stolen heirlooms pawned at two stores in Cranberry Township and Sewickley, and on Craigslist, will never be recovered. A store clerk at Twice Treasured said she purchased some of the items from Ramoutar because she knew they were stolen and wanted to recover them for the victim.

Police also received a search warrant for Ramoutar’s home and found hundreds of empty stamp bags and several items with prices. He remains free on $5,000 bond.

The following people were also charged and scheduled for preliminary hearings on Feb. 5 in Leetsdale District Court.

Waived

• Moray Clements, 45, of Sewickley, charged with retail theft. Sewickley police reported a Rite Aid manager saw Clements put a bottle of ginger ale worth $1.99 in her bag then proceed to pay for a bag of chips. The manager confronted Clements and she returned the 2-liter before leaving the Beaver Street store. Police said Clements pleaded guilty to two prior retail thefts. 

• Joseph Hurley, 55, of Pittsburgh, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. State police reported Hurley was stopped Dec. 16 on Interstate 79 southbound in Aleppo Township after his Cadillac was clocked going 100 mph. Police reported a blood-alcohol level of 0.105 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.

• Cayce Bowser, 31, of Butler, PA, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Franklin Park police reported police stopped Bowser Dec. 8 on Brand View Court after she was seen on Brandt School Road driving slowly and then accelerating. Police said Bowser refused a blood-alcohol test.

Held

• Debora Wood, 51, of Witherow Road, Bell Acres, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Bell Acres police reported seeing Wood’s car sitting Dec. 22 on Fairway Road near the stop sign at Camp Meeting Road. Police said she was asleep inside the running vehicle with the windshield wipers on.  Police did not report blood-alcohol test results.

Reduced

• Matt Tyson, 30, of Main Street, Leet Township, charged with theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Charges reduced to non-traffic disorderly conduct. He was ordered to pay $300 plus court fees.

• Robert Churchel, 36, of Gibsonia, charged by Franklin Park police on Oct. 29 with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. Charges reduced to non-traffic disorderly conduct. He was ordered to pay $300 plus court fees.

• Shalonda Adkins, 31, of Heidelberg, charged Oct. 29 by Franklin Park police with possession of marijuana. Charges reduced to non-traffic disorderly conduct.

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