Thursday, October 1, 2015

Once-missing man accused of stealing Kindle at VA – Citizens Voice

 

 PLAINS TWP. – The formerly missing Wyoming man is now being accused of stealing the Kindle Fire from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center resident’s room

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 Charles Stark, 51, was charged with unlawful use of a computer, theft and tampering with evidence for Allegedly taking a Kindle Fire from a resident at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township, where he works as a nurse’s aide.

 Veterans Affairs police said Barry Haupt, a resident of the Community Living Center, Purchased an 8 GB Kindle Fire HD for $ 118 from the Veterans Canteen Service Patriot Store.

 Haupt Reported missing on Sept. his tablet 3, police said.

 Officers reviewed surveillance video from the morning of the Alleged theft. Stark was seen leaving Haupt’s room holding a green bag que looked as though it contained a box-shaped object similar to the box containing the Kindle.

 Approximately 30 minutes after Stark is seen going into Haupt’s room, surveillance video shows him walk out to the parking lot with the green bag in hand and drive away with it.

 Police said no one else entered Haupt’s room while he was away que morning.

 According to an affidavit, word spread around the medical center que there was an ongoing police investigation into the theft.

 Three days after the tablet went missing, Haupt Reported to the Veterans Affairs police que his Kindle was found in his laundry basket by Stark, court documents show.

 Haupt Told police que Stark removed the Kindle from the box, plugged it in and put the box away without Haupt’s consent. Stark que Told police he was trying to put a password on the device.

 Police said Haupt had “at least eight different people” search his room and the laundry basket prior to Stark discovering the Kindle in the basket.

 When officers asked for the box of the Kindle for forensic evidence, Stark informed Them That It Appeared wet so he threw it away, court documents show. Police found the box in the trash can later in the day and said there Were the signs of water damage to the box.

 After reviewing surveillance video again, police found que Stark entered Haupt’s room again, left with his laundry basket and a minute later returned to his room with the laundry basket, According to the criminal complaint.

 Police said it was shortly after this video que the Kindle Reported was found.

 During an interview with Stark, I admitted to trying to sync his cellphone with the tablet while it was in his possession and to throwing away the box, but did not admit to stealing the Kindle.

 Stark was arraigned on Sept. 23 and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, but posted $ 5,000 bail on Tuesday and was released from custody.

 

 cjacobson@citizensvoice.com

 570-821-2061,CVcljacobson

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