CLEARFIELD – A man accused of breaking into a residence and causing damage in excess of $30,000 waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Charles Edward Murphy, 19, of Seneca has been charged with burglary; criminal mischief; and criminal trespass. His bail is set at $50,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 7:43 p.m. Aug. 15, the Clearfield-based state police were dispatched to a burglary in progress on Mease Road in Woodward Township. Upon arrival state police determined the residence was clear and vacant of any suspects.
The victim explained to state police that he was the caretaker of the residence. At approximately 7:40 p.m., he stopped to check the residence and observed that the outside porch light was on. Upon entering the residence, he observed two, unknown Caucasian males and yelled at them. He ran outside of the residence and called 9-1-1.
Through investigation state police determined that one of the males was Murphy. On Aug. 19 state police interviewed Murphy, who related that he and his accomplice, a known 16-year-old juvenile, broke into the victim’s residence by climbing onto the roof and breaking an upstairs window.
Once inside he said they consumed alcohol found there and became intoxicated. He said they proceeded to vandalize the residence and property within by smashing everything they could with golf clubs, axing items and also shooting items with a bow and arrow found within the residence. He said he didn’t know the owner of the residence and wasn’t given permission to enter.
During an interview, the victim told state police he’d estimated the damage to be in excess of $30,000.
