CLEARFIELD – A man accused of stealing a puppy dog waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Richard Cowder of Woodland was initially charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. He waived the charge of receiving stolen property to the Court of Common Pleas, while the commonwealth conditionally withdrew the other charges.
Cowder was alleged to have stolen a brown Labrador retriever puppy from a Bradford Township resident on May 20. Police learned that Cowder may have been the person who took the dog.
On May 29 police interviewed Cowder. When asked if he had a brown female puppy, he reportedly said that he did, and that he went to State College to purchase it.
Police asked for the breeder’s name and if he received papers for the puppy. Cowder told police that he didn’t know the guy’s name and that the puppy did not have papers. He said he found the ad on Pennswoods and that he contacted the person by email. He said he set up a meeting at Sheetz in State College, met him there and paid cash.
Police said that Cowder was unable to provide papers for the dog, the name of the guy he got the dog from or which of the Sheetz stores in State College he met the guy at.
Police told Cowder that he was not telling the truth and that he could make things worse for himself.
Later that day the puppy’s owner came and identified the dog.
On June 1 the puppy was taken to a local veterinarian and a DNA sample was taken. A sample was also taken from the dogs that produced the puppy. The results showed a 99.9999 percent match.
On June 14 police called Cowder and informed him of the DNA results. He told police that it was not possible, that he purchased the puppy in State College. Police asked him if he could proof of that, to which he responded “No.”
Clearfield County Assistant District Attorney Earle Lees stated on Wednesday that the commonwealth conditionally withdrew the more serious charges. He said, however, that if Cowder did not follow through with ARD, the charges would be reinstated.