Mercer Inmate Accused of Local Burglaries
SCI Mercer Inmate Matthew Beiter is accused of nearly a half-dozen Armstrong County burglaries in November/December 2015 and stealing items and causing damages for a total of more than $10,000. Beiter reportedly admitted to all of the felony crimes to Pennsylvania State Police troopers and was arraigned on those additional charges last week. (Department of Corrections photograph)
by Jonathan Weaver
Charges were filed against an inmate at the state correctional institution in Mercer County for five Armstrong County burglaries in 2015.
After police investigation, Matthew Beiter – 31 – is charged with felony criminal trespass, burglary and theft charges after a string of home burglaries in North Buffalo, South Buffalo, West Franklin and East Franklin Townships.
The first two burglaries occurred at the beginning of November 2015.
According to criminal affidavits written about Beiter, South Buffalo Township Police Detective Jeffrey Kuntz said Beiter stole about $4,000 worth of items during the two burglaries.
Beiter was first brought to the attention of South Buffalo Police by the State Board of Probation and Parole after Beiter was using the address of a relative here in South Buffalo Township. Evidence linking him to the South Buffalo burglaries was found during a traffic stop/arrest by Hermitage Police in December 2015.
According to State troopers who investigated the November 9 North Buffalo Township burglary, Beiter stole two flat screen televisions and a watch while also damaging a window and frame. The total loss was estimated at $2,300.
The East Franklin burglary was the next to occur, on December 2, 2015. During that incident, victims cataloged a combined value of $4,400 in stolen items – including a flat screen television, iPhone and jewelry.
Hermitage Police later connected Beiter to a Matthews bow stolen from the East Franklin burglary via a pawn shop sale.
The last burglary Beiter was involved in occurred the next afternoon in West Franklin Township. The homeowner, however, came back to the residence as Beiter was trying to steal a television by way of a broken window.
After taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police troopers December 5, 2016, Beiter admitted to the burglaries.
According to the criminal affidavits, Beiter also committed burglaries in Mercer County before his incarceration.
Beiter was arraigned on $10,000 bail for each alleged incident by District Magisterial Judge James Owen January 13 via video arraignment.
Beiter will be brought to the Kittanning courtroom during his preliminary hearing – which is set for January 25.
Local News | jweaver January 16, 2017
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