Most of the charges filed against a Smethport man accused in a gun theft in Keating Township were bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Todd.
Joshua C. Pingie, 27, of Smethport, had three charges against him withdrawn: Felony charges of burglary and possession of a firearm, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. Remaining are charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, second-degree felonies; disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor; and two summary counts of criminal mischief.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 22, Pingie stole an AK-47 from a Keating Township garage where he was getting work done on his car. When the owner of the AK-47 realized it was missing, he went to Pingie’s home and asked for it back; Pingie complied, the complaint stated.
State police went to Pingie’s home that afternoon to arrest him, but Pingie allegedly refused to come out. He related via telephone that he was not coming out and that “police would have to come get him,” the complaint stated. It was 4 p.m. before Pingie came out of his residence and was placed under arrest.
According to police radio reports, East Water Street in Smethport was shut down while the alleged standoff was underway.
At the Lewis Run state police barracks, Pingie caused a disturbance, screaming and damaging multiple items, the complaint indicated.
Pingie is incarcerated in McKean County Jail in lieu of $125,000 bail.
At another preliminary hearing before Todd, Jeffrey P. Carney, 48, of Hazel Hurst, had two felony counts against him withdrawn, but all the misdemeanor and summary charges against him were bound to court at a hearing. Withdrawn were two charges of aggravated assault. Carney still faces resisting arrest, attempt-escape and two counts of simple assault, second-degree misdemeanors; disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor; and two summary counts of harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 13, while Carney was in the commitment process at McKean County Jail, when an officer told him he couldn’t bring certain items into the jail. Carney became irate and allegedly attempted to leave, and it took two officers to forcefully restrain him. Both officers suffered injuries, the complaint indicated.
Carney is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Jason M. Conner, 35, of Cyclone, waived a preliminary hearing before Todd on the following charges: firearms not to be carried without a license, a third-degree felony; terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; harassment, a third-degree misdemeanor; DUI-controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and summary counts of disorderly conduct and careless driving. According to a criminal complaint, Conner held a gun to his then-girlfriend’s head. Also, he allegedly drove under the influence of a controlled substance. Conner is free, having posted $20,000 bail.
Michael A. Snyder, 31, of Ludlow, waived a preliminary hearing before Engman for charges of terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; harassment and disorderly conduct, third-degree misdemeanors. According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 13, Snyder threatened to kill his father with a baseball bat during an argument, and he threatened to kill his mother if she didn’t side with him in the argument. Snyder is free on $30,000 unsecured bail.
Anthony R. Bernardi, 21, of Bradford, had the following charges bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before Todd: criminal trespassing, a second-degree felony, and summary criminal mischief. According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 11, a person Bernardi was staying with for a few days kicked him out, and Bernardi went to the residence, tore the window screen, pushed the window open, went inside and removed only his belongings. Bernardi is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.
Joshua E. Boozer, 34, of Warren, waived a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Engman for charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, receives advance payment for services and fails to perform and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, all third-degree felonies. According to the criminal complaint, Boozer cashed a check for $5,527 given to him as a down payment for work to be performed on a Hamilton Township house, but he failed to perform the work. Boozer is free, having posted $6,000 bail.
