A man accused of stealing a car from a man who was putting air in his tires was one of several cases scheduled for preliminary hearings on Wednesday.
Andrew S. Vanguilder, 32, had robbery allegations against him bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before District Judge Dominic Cercone. Meanwhile, a misdemeanor trespassing charge against Vanguilder in a separate case was withdrawn.
Vanguilder is charged with robbery of a motor vehicle, a first-degree felony; theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, third-degree felonies; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a second-degree misdemeanor; and defiant trespass, a third-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, Bradford City Police were called to Country Fair in Bradford for a report of a motor vehicle theft.
There, police learned that Vanguilder crossed West Washington Street and entered the County Fair parking lot while the alleged victim was bent down by the rear passenger tire. When the victim stood up to walk to the air pump, Vanguilder ran up to the driver’s side door, entered the car and drove out of the parking lot going north on Mechanic Street, according to court records.
The McKean County 911 Center contacted New York State Police because investigators believed Vanguilder might be traveling to their jurisdiction, the complaint stated.
Officers were informed of a motor vehicle accident in Allegany State Park in which the vehicle involved matched the description of the stolen car. A Bradford City officer told Salamanca (N.Y.) police the name of the suspect, and Salamanca police confirmed Vanguilder was in their custody, according to the complaint.
Court records stated that Vanguilder was taken to Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the accident.
Vanguilder is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Also in court, Charles M. Johnson Jr., 23, of Bradford, had drug charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing before Cercone.
Johnson is charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony; possession of an instrument of crime, a first-degree misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia and six counts of possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanors; and two summary charges.
The criminal complaint states that at 1:47 a.m. Nov. 10, a Bradford City police officer was on patrol, when he observed a minivan parked in the Chestnut Street area. A car pulled in directly next to the minivan, and the front passenger — Johnson — got out of the car and entered the minivan. The minivan pulled briefly into a Park Street driveway before departing and heading west on Park Street.
The officer pulled over the minivan, which Johnson was driving and had pulled into the driveway of a Potter Street residence, court records indicated.
When the officer made contact, Johnson “exited the vehicle and became argumentative,” the complaint stated.
The officer saw cash dispersed in the interior of the vehicle, and on the seat behind Johnson was a clear plastic stamp bag containing what appeared to be crack cocaine; more stamp bags were on the floor, according to the complaint.
Court records stated that the following items were seized from the vehicle: a small purple bag containing cocaine, small white plastic panda bear bags containing cocaine, a small clear plastic bag containing two trazodone pills, $94 in cash and six bags of cocaine weighing a total of 4.37 grams.
Johnson’s bail is set at 10% of $20,000.
Cody A. Whitehill, 26, of Stow, N.Y., waived a preliminary hearing before District Judge Richard Luther on charges of false imprisonment, a second-degree misdemeanor; harassment and disorderly conduct, third-degree misdemeanors; and a summary charge.
According to the criminal complaint, at 4:12 p.m. Nov. 24, Bradford Township Police were dispatched to a domestic dispute on Nelson Avenue.
There, police learned that Whitehill, who was intoxicated, struck a woman in the face with an open hand, broke items in the residence and blocked the woman from leaving, despite her telling him she wanted to leave; he took her phone to prevent her from calling police, too, the complaint stated.
At 2:26 a.m. Nov. 25, police were again summoned to the home for a report that Whitehill was pounding on the door and yelling for the woman. Police found Whitehill to again be intoxicated, and they learned the woman had told him earlier in the day that their relationship was over and he was not to contact her. Whitehill continued to contact her, calling her numerous times and sending her multiple text messages, records alleged.
Whitehill is free, having posted $20,000 bail.
Mathew K. Frederick, 30, of Bradford, had indecent assault charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a hearing before Cercone.
Frederick is charged with indecent assault of a person with a mental disability, a first-degree misdemeanor; indecent assault without consent, a second-degree misdemeanor; and a summary charge.
According to court records, on July 11, Frederick was sitting on a couch as a 16-year-old girl walked by him and he grabbed her buttocks. She pushed his hands off and said it was against her father’s rules.
Frederick stood up, grabbed her chest and told her he wished she was 18, the complaint stated. The teen pushed his hands away, told him again that it was against the rules and walked away from him.
Frederick is free on unsecured bail.
