The man accused of stealing and burying an ATV will go before a judge today for his preliminary hearing.
23-year-old Steven Paul McCloskey of Homer City was charged in connection with theft, receiving stolen property and destroying or altering a vehicle’s VIN number for an incident that happened on July 9th. Police said at the time they were called out to the home of the 27-year-old victim in New Florence for the reported theft of a 2009 Suzuki King Quad ATV. The victim said that he discovered his ATV stolen the day before and received information that McCloskey was trying to sell a “hot” ATV.
Later that day, troopers went to McCloskey’s home and received information that he may have buried the ATV in the backyard. Police noticed that there was some freshly-disturbed dirt and a backhoe was parked nearby. Police obtained a search warrant and called in an excavator to dig up what was buried, and they found the ATV wrapped in plastic, with the wheels, tires and frames removed and the VIN number ground off the frame. Troopers received additional information and found the wheels, tires and plastic frame later on.
McCloskey has been free on $20,000 unsecured bail. The preliminary hearing will be before District Judge Robert Bell, Sr.
Others scheduled for preliminary hearings today include 22-year-old Dustin Dewitt of Indiana, who faces two counts of simple assault and a single count of theft, and 20-year-old Julian Chisolm of Blairsville, who is charged with assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
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