Employees conspired to burglarize State College restaurant, police say
A former Federal Taphouse employee was arraigned Wednesday on charges that he and another former employee assisted in a burglary of the downtown State College restaurant.
Jon Osewalt admitted in an interview with borough police that he and the other former employee provided a detailed description of the restaurant’s layout to a Bellefonte man during a phone call in January 2019, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause filed Friday.
The Bellefonte man, whom charges are pending against, was seen on security video entering a rear door that required a code provided to all employees and is accused of stealing nearly $5,300 of cash and gift cards, police wrote.
An officer tracked the phone call to Osewalt, 26, of Clearfield County, and the former employee. The about 24 minute call corresponded with the time frame of the alleged burglary, police wrote.
Osewalt and the former employee, whom charges are also pending against, received about $900 worth of methamphetamine and cash for their assistance, police wrote.
A defense lawyer for Osewalt was not listed on a court document.
Osewalt was charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property.
He was arraigned and released by District Judge Casey McClain, who set bail at $10,000 unsecured. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.