by peter e. bortner
PORT CARBON - A Pottsville man charged with participating in eight retail thefts from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Saint Clair must appear in Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday.
Archie D. Ciccanti, 32, faces eight sets of charges after Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko bound them over for the county court following the defendant's waiver of his right to a hearing.
Ciccanti said little during Thursday's proceeding except to indicate that he understood the consequences of his waiver and that it was voluntary.
Saint Clair police have charged Ciccanti with committing two thefts on Aug. 12 and one each on Aug. 11, Sept. 24, Oct. 3, Oct. 16, Nov. 17 and Nov. 19.
Police said that after the Nov. 19 theft, Ciccanti and his alleged co-conspirator, Robert W. McFarland, 41, of Pottsville, led them on a chase onto Darkwater Road and into the woods before they were caught about two miles from their vehicle.
Assistant District Attorney Douglas J. Taglieri declined to comment Thursday on Ciccanti's cases.
Assistant Public Defender Paul G. Domalakes, Ciccanti's lawyer, said, "The facts speak for themselves," when asked about the cases.
Ciccanti is far from finished with the legal system.
He faces a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. today before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, on charges of retail theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
Pottsville police allege that Ciccanti helped steal three flat-screen television sets on Oct. 4 from the Rite Aid Pharmacy, 500 N. Claude A. Lord Blvd. (Route 61).
On Nov. 27, Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, bound over for court charges of retail theft and conspiracy against Ciccanti after the defendant waived his right to a hearing on them.
Orwigsburg police alleged that Ciccanti and an accomplice conspired to, and did, steal $400 worth of merchandise from Boyer's Food Market, 329 S. Liberty St., at 6:42 p.m. July 27.
