By Pattie Price
Vincent Cortlessa, 48, of Oxford was held for a July 19 arraignment in Delaware County Common Pleas Court after a hearing, Thursday, before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter. on the charges of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. The charges stem from an incident 11:58 a.m., March 23, at the Liberty Baptist Church, 1519 N. Middletown Road, Edgmont, Pa.
According to the affidavit, Trooper Brian Maturo responded to the Middletown Road residence for a report of a burglary and the victim was following a blue Toyota Corolla south on Route 352. Sgt. Robert Reilly saw the vehicle in front of 14 N. Pennell Road and took Cortlessa into custody.
Cortlessa said he stopped at the church and saw a riding mower sitting next to a shed. He said he banged on the shed door to see if the mower needed to be fixed.
The complaintant said he was working in the rear of the property when he heard loud banging. He saw a pickup truck with ramps sticking out of the back and a man jumped in the truck and took off. The man got into his van, followed Cortlessa, obtained the license plate and called police. He followed Cortlessa to Route 452 where he was apprehended by police.
Cortlessa said there were no stolen items in his truck and gave police permission to search it. He admitted he backed up his truck when he saw a John Deer mower with a flat tire. He also admitted he broke one of the locks off the shed.
Seized from Cortlessa’s truck were bolt cutters, a pry bar, and a wooden ramp.
Bail was reduced from $50,000 to 10 percent of $25,000. Cortelessa was returned to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
Oh Vincent, your fellow residents,the good folks at Broadmeadows will probably remind you that:
Thou shalt not steal.