The LuLac Edition #1755, September 12th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: MESSAGE TO LOOTERS.

LOOTERS ARRESTED

Just when people were the most vulnerable, people in this community went on a looting spree. Here are the reports from the Times Leader and the Citizen's Voice telling you the when, the what, the how but most importantly the who. Brand these names and actions into your mind. These are the scum among us.
TIMES LEADER
KINGSTON – A woman trusted to watch a neighbor’s dog during the mandatory evacuation took advantage of the empty house by letting herself in and stealing items that were kept in another residence, according to charges filed.
The looting was one of several incidents in the area when most people residing in the Wyoming Valley flood plain were ordered to vacate their houses when the Susquehanna River rose to record levels on Thursday and Friday.
Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Tokach said the punishment is greater when a looter is convicted of a burglary-related offense during a state of emergency, such as a mandatory evacuation.
“There is no looting crime per say in the crimes code but it does say a theft is a second degree felony if the offense happens during a natural disaster,” Tokach said. “It’s a much more severe penalty, with maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.”
Tokach said the grading of a theft charge depends on the value stolen.
“Almost all thefts are misdemeanors, but it all depends on the value of the stolen property,” Tokach noted. “If the value exceeds more than $2,000 or if it’s a vehicle, it’s a third degree felony.”
Police charged Brenda Lee Wolfe, 29, of Eley Street, and two others with burglarizing a house on Eley Street on Friday.
Sara Chicallo told police Wolfe had a key to her house to care for her dog while she evacuated due to the flood scare. When she returned home, she noticed a television, a computer, a video game system and video games, numerous DVDs, toys and pictures were stolen, according to charges filed.
Police allege they found the stolen items inside the Eley Street residence of Christopher Wilson, 40, and Marie Zuccaro, 32.
Wolfe, Wilson and Zuccaro remained jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $30,000 bail each.
A second incident in Kingston occurred on Penn Street at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
Police Chief Keith Keiper said two men entered a residence and were confronted by the homeowner.
“The owner got a good description of the two and our guys caught them a short time later,” Keiper said.
Police charged Charles Wickiser III, 21, of Kingston, and Justin Todd Haden, 20, of Wilkes-Barre, with felony criminal trespass. They remained jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $20,000 bail.
Two Pennsylvania National Guardsmen on patrol in South Wilkes-Barre during the evacuation on Friday spotted a suspicious vehicle dropping people off in the area of Plymouth Avenue just before 1 p.m.
City police said they captured Maurice Hassan Barnes, 19, of High Street, Wilkes-Barre, and a 17-year old boy hiding behind a shed on Diebel Avenue. Police said Barnes and the juvenile had gloves and knives, and attempted to hide a bag containing money, computers and other items, according to charges filed.
Items in the bag were taken from several houses in the evacuated area of South Wilkes-Barre, city police said.
Barnes was charged with burglary related offenses and remained jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $50,000 bail. The juvenile is expected to be petitioned to county juvenile court.
City police said they also arrested William Gronosky, 22, of Carey Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, and Kevin Williams Jr., 29, of Philadelphia, on charges they forced open a door to a house on Brookside Street, an evacuated area hit by flooding, at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
Gronosky and Williams claimed they were checking on the house for a friend, police said.
Police said the homeowner confronted the two men who were captured when they ran out the rear door.
Gronosky and Williams were charged with burglary-related offenses and jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $10,000 bail each.
CITIZEN'S VOICE
Maurice Barnes, 28, 264 High St., Wilkes-Barre
William Gronosky, 28, of 326 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre
Justin Haden, 20, of 82 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre
Adam Kuren, 27, no known address
Charles Wickiser III, 21, of 463 Woodlawn Ave., Kingston
Kevin Williams, 29, of 631 Gilham St., Philadelphia
Christopher Wilson, of 83 Eley St., Kingston
Brenda Wolfe, 29, of 71 Eley St., Kingston
Marie C. Zuccaro, 32, of 83 Eley St., Kingston
According to various police reports:
On Thursday around 8:45 p.m., police arrested Haden and Wickiser after a homeowner at 48 1/2 Penn St. caught them inside his residence. Both were charged with criminal trespass. Haden was jailed on $20,000 bail, while Wickiser was jailed on $75,000 bail.
> On Friday around 11 a.m., police arrested Kuren for breaking into 741 S. Prospect St. in Nanticoke. He was caught in the basement. While the property was not in the flood zone, Kuren admitted he was trying to capitalize on the flood emergency, police said.
"I believe he was taking advantage of the situation," said Nanticoke police Capt. William Shultz. "He did admit he knew a flood was going on. He did in during a natural disaster."
Charged with burglary, trespassing and theft, Kuren was jailed on $75,000 cash bail.
> On Friday around 12:45 p.m., police patrolling the evacuated flood zone in Wilkes-Barre witnessed Maurice Barnes and a juvenile fleeing on Plymouth Avenue. Police soon found them hiding behind a shed in the area of 108 Diebel Ave. Police said they found two heavy bags near them containing valuables taken from homes in the evacuated flood zone, including cash and a laptop computer.
Barnes, who was charged with burglary, trespassing, and theft, remained jailed today in the county prison in lieu of $50,000. The juvenile was charged with receiving stolen property and possessing instruments of a crime.
> Around 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, Kingston police responded to a report of neighbors arguing and uncovered the burglary of 73 Eley St. Police said they learned Wilson, Wolfe and Zuccarro, neighbors of the victim, conspired to steal a 42-inch plasma television, a desktop computer, $1,000 worth of DVDs, children's toys, a video game system, $450 in video games, and a DVD player. The items were located inside 83 Eley St., police said. They are charged with burglary, conspiracy, theft and reviving stolen property. All three were jailed in lieu of $30,000 bail.
> On Sunday, around 11:25 p.m., police patrolling the flood zone in Wilkes-Barre witnessed William Gronosky and Kevin Williams fleeing the rear of 48 Brookside St. When police stopped the men, Gronosky said a friend told him to "go into that house and check for flood damage." Police then saw the door to the home was forced open and the frame was damaged. Officers entered the residence and located the homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs. The homeowner said he didn't know the suspects and they were not given permission to enter his home. Gronosky and Williams were charged with burglary, trespassing and loitering and prowling at nighttime. They were jailed in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.