Police arrest 3 after menorah at Penn State fraternity was vandalized, stolen
Editor’s note: David Kovacs, Thomas Callahan and John Hamlin IV were each accepted into an accelerated rehabilitative disposition program. Callahan completed the program and had his charges expunged, according to court documents. (UPDATED: 9:45 a.m., June 12, 2020)
Five men who were either Theta Delta Chi brothers or staying at the fraternity admitted to stealing and vandalizing Zeta Beta Tau’s menorah, according to State College police.
The menorah was stolen from outside of the fraternity house at 328 E. Fairmount Ave. on Dec. 2 and one Zeta Beta Tau brother who attempted to stop the alleged theft was punched in the face, according to police.
The $1,800 menorah was returned after the Theta Delta Chi president saw the theft, became angry and told them to return it. A Zeta Beta Tau window, basketball hoop and grill was also damaged, police said.
David Kovacs, 20; of Blue Bell; Thomas Callahan, 19, of State College; and John Hamlin IV, 19, of Nashville, Tenn., were each charged with three misdemeanors — theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Police said Theta Delta Chi “has taken internal actions against their members as well.”
Kovacs, Callahan and Hamlin each have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 16.
The Zeta Beta Tau brother who was assaulted declined to press charges, according to police, and two others listed as co-defendants have not yet been charged. Each is a Penn State student, except Hamlin.
Additional charges are still pending from a prior Nov. 29 incident involving the same menorah, but a third fraternity.
This story was originally published December 18, 2018 at 10:48 AM.