Three men have been arrested by state police at Frackville and charged in connection with a string of burglaries dating back to December 2011.
In one of the burglaries, charges were also filed against a 25-year-old Tamaqua woman.
Trooper Melissa Kyper of the Frackville station said Edward M. Matalavage, 36, of New Ringgold, and Ryan M. Navitsky, 34, and Matthew R. Martin, 33, both of Tamaqua, were arraigned by magisterial district judges David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.
Matalavage's total bail is $155,000 and he was committed to Schuylkill County Prison while Martin was also jailed in the county prison with a total bail of $55,000.
Navitsky's total bail was $110,000 and after his arraignments, he was returned to Berks County Prison where he is serving a sentence on an unrelated offense.
Justine Lockard, Tamaqua, was released by Plachko on her own recognizance.
Kyper said the first burglary occurred at Michael Coal Co. near Brockton on Dec. 8 or 9, 2011, where a welder, diesel fuel tank and tools were stolen. In that case, Matalavage and Martin were charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. Plachko set bail at $25,000 straight cash bail for each of the men.
Kyper said the second burglary, this one involving all four people, occurred at R.E. Pierson Construction, Blythe Township, between Aug. 24 and 27, where cables valued at about $50,000 were stolen.
Matalavage was charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary, defiant trespass, criminal attempt to commit theft by unlawful taking, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Kyper said Navitsky was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and defiant trespass. Martin was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, defiant trespass and trespass by motor vehicle.
Lockard was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and aiding consummation of a crime.
All four were arraigned by Plachko, who set bail at $25,000 each for Martin, Navitsky and Matalavage and released Lockard on her own recognizance.
Then, Kyper charged Matalavage and Navitsky with a burglary at Coal Creek Ranch near Tuscarora on Aug. 16 or 17, where various auto parts were stolen along with tools and fuel.
Matalavage was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, defiant trespass and criminal mischief while Navitsky was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and defiant trespass.
In this case, Kyper said Plachko set bail at $25,000 for each of the men.
Matalavage was then charged in connection with an incident at Oak Ridge Hunting Club, Walker Township, between Sept. 26 and 28 where stoves, chairs and household products were stolen. Kyper charged the man with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Matalavage was also charged with an identical set of offenses in connection with a burglary at a property in Walker Township owned by William Wishousky where tires and auto parts were stolen. That burglary occurred between Feb. 13 and 15, 2012, the trooper said.
Ferrier arraigned Matalavage and set bail at $10,000 for each of the incidents.
Kyper charged Matalavage and Navitsky with five additional burglaries that occurred between Sept. 3 and 10, 2012, at seasonal properties along Penny Lane in East Brunswick Township.
William Wishousky had tires and auto parts stolen; Michael Nedby and Ronald Barratt Jr. had a golf cart, ATVs and a shotgun stolen; Timothy Connell had an ATV and copper stolen; Allen Meitzler and Matthew Meitzler had tools and hunting items stolen; and Robert Robinson had a generator and kayak taken.
The men were arraigned by Ferrier on charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief for each theft. The judge set bail at $10,000 straight cash for each incident for a total of $50,000 straight cash each.
In an additional burglary on Penny Lane where nothing was taken, Navitsky and Matalavage were each charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal trespass. Those charges resulted in an additional $10,000 straight cash bail for each man, Kyper said.
In the final incident, Cpl. James Cuttitta charged Martin with theft by deception for selling a stolen welder to Michael Kanaski, New Ringgold. The welder was confiscated and returned to its owner and Martin was arraigned by Ferrier and given $5,000 straight cash bail.