Centre County teens accused of stealing SCASD vehicles, attempted burglary
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- Police charged two 18-year-olds with felony theft and attempted burglary.
- Suspects allegedly stole school trucks, fled police and caused property damage.
- A 16-year-old was also identified as a co-defendant.
Two Centre County men are facing felony charges after police alleged they stole two State College Area School District vehicles, attempted to burglarize a downtown business and damaged multiple windows by shooting a BB gun.
Norman P. Ghaner, 18, of Boalsburg, was charged Wednesday with felony counts of theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit burglary, as well as misdemeanor counts of fleeing a police officer and corruption of minors. He’s also facing four summary citations.
An arrest warrant was also issued for Cameron M. Goodman, 18, of Port Matilda. He’s facing the same felony charges as Ghaner and misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and criminal mischief.
A criminal complaint identified a 16-year-old boy as a co-defendant, though no additional details were available. A message left with State College police was not immediately returned Thursday.
No defense lawyer were listed. The Centre County Public Defender Office said Ghaner had not applied for representation as of Thursday afternoon.
The alleged crimes were carried out over a three-day span earlier this month in the State College area, borough police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
Surveillance video showed the three friends place ski masks over their head before stealing a 2012 Ford truck from the parking lot of State College Area High School, police wrote. They returned later that night and were accused of stealing 2005 Ford F-450 dump truck.
They were next seen at a downtown State College smoke shop, where police said Goodman and the 16-year-old shattered the business’ glass door. They were unable to get inside.
A borough police officer saw one of the trucks soon after as it turned onto U.S. Route 322 from Discovery Drive. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but police said Ghaner fled and abandoned the truck about 1 1/2 miles away.
The three were also accused of using a BB gun to shoot windows along the 200 block of Logan Avenue and the 200 block of West Foster Avenue. Estimated repairs were more than $500.
Neither Ghaner, Goodman nor the 16-year-old had permission to drive any of the school district’s vehicles, police wrote.
Ghaner was arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Casey McClain, who released him on $7,500 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 28.